Rise in Carjackings and Car Thefts in 2024

SOURCE www.npr.org
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.

Key Points

  • Carjacking rates peaked in 2024 but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels
  • Juveniles and adults commit carjacking at similar rates
  • Nonviolent car theft surged post-pandemic, driven by a security flaw in Hyundais and Kias
  • Car theft is nearly 30 times more common than carjacking but carjackings have a greater impact on safety perception

Pros

  • Decrease in carjacking rates compared to 2023
  • Juveniles and adults commit carjacking at similar rates
  • Nonviolent car theft trending downward in 2024

Cons

  • Carjacking rates still higher than pre-pandemic levels
  • Juveniles gravitate more to carjacking than adults
  • Some cities struggling to contain car theft increase