Rise in Carjackings and Car Thefts in 2024
A car was stolen with a person inside and crashed into the U.S. Attorney's Office building in Washington, D.C., killing the passenger. Carjacking rates peaked in 2024 but remain higher than before the pandemic. Juveniles and adults commit carjacking at similar rates. Nonviolent car theft also surged post-pandemic, driven by a security flaw in Hyundais and Kias. Car theft is more common but carjackings have a greater impact on perceived safety.