Car Thefts in New York City Increase by 191% compared to pre-COVID levels
New York City has seen an alarming increase in car thefts, with a 191% rise compared to pre-COVID levels in 2019, according to data collected by the New York Police Department (NYPD).
In 2023, a total of 15,802 vehicle thefts were reported in the five boroughs, showing a significant increase compared to 5,438 in 2019 and 15% more than the 13,741 cases recorded in 2022, as reported by The New York Post.
Car thefts were the category of felonies with the highest increase in the city last year, despite overall crime decreasing slightly by 0.3% compared to the previous year. However, crime rates have seen an increase of more than 31% compared to 2019, according to NYPD statistics.
According to Mike Lipetri, head of Control Strategies Crime at the NYPD, Kia and Hyundai are the most sought-after models by car thieves. Lipetri attributes this phenomenon to a TikTok viral challenge last year that encouraged teenagers to steal vehicles of these brands for rides.
The NYPD had warned about this “dangerous” trend after social media-inspired thieves stole a police cruiser during a 12-hour excursion. Lipetri emphasized, “We have seen an increase of more than 300% in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles, with more than 2,100 cases reported.”
The Bronx and Queens were the most affected areas by these robberies, with many incidents occurring blatantly on the streets. Vehicle recoveries outside of New York City, in places such as New Jersey and Westchester, were also analyzed.
Mayor Eric Adams reported that the crackdown on car thefts has led to almost 2,000 arrests in 2023, the highest figure in two decades. However, some of these cases have resulted in more serious crimes. For example, in November, a 43-year-old man was struck and killed while trying to stop the theft of his car in broad daylight in Queens. In April, a Department of Sanitation (DSNY) employee shot a teenager who tried to steal his vehicle in the Bronx.
According to previous NYPD statistics, car theft was already among the crimes that have increased the most in the city since the start of the pandemic.