The U.S. suffered through a historic surge in deadly violence in during the pandemic. According to FBI data, there were more homicides in 2020 than in any year since the mid-1990s. Not all crime trends are as discouraging, however, as the property crime rate fell for the 19th consecutive year in 2020.
Property crime is made up of three categories of offenses: larceny, defined as the unlawful taking of property; burglary, or the illegal entry of a structure to commit a crime; and vehicle theft, which can be either the theft, or the attempted theft, of a vehicle, such a car or ATV. Here is a look at the city in every state where your car is most likely to be stolen.
There were a total 6.5 million property crimes reported in the U.S. in 2020, or 1,958 for every 100,000 people, a decrease of 172 incidents per 100,000 people from the previous year. In keeping with the national trend, most states reported a decline in property crime in 2020. There were several exceptions, however, and in one state, the property crime rate climbed by nearly 300 incidents per 100,000 people year over year.
Using data from the FBI’s 2020 Uniform Crime Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where property crime is soaring. States are ranked by the year-over-year change in property crimes reported for every 100,000 residents, from the largest decline to the largest increase.
Despite the decline in much of the country, property crimes remain the most common of the most serious crimes tracked by the FBI, known as Part I offenses. Each year, property crimes result in the loss of tens of billions of dollars worth of property – much of which is never recovered.
The 11 states to report an increase in property crime span the Northeast, the Midwest, and the West, though none are located in the South. However, five of the 10 states with the highest overall property crime rate are in the South. Additionally, it is important to note that in just over half of the states where property crime is on the rise, the property crime rate remains below the national average.
Click here to see the states where property crime is soaring
Click here to read our detailed methodology
50. Georgia
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 766.6 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 214,988 (7th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 294,817 (4th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,007.4 (24th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,774.0 (9th highest)
> Population: 10,617,423
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49. Alaska
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 642.0 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 16,528 (7th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 21,293 (8th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,260.5 (13th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,902.5 (4th highest)
> Population: 731,545
48. Alabama
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 486.0 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 105,161 (23rd highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 128,726 (20th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,136.8 (19th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,622.8 (13th highest)
> Population: 4,903,185
47. Hawaii
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 457.9 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 33,928 (13th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 40,617 (14th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,411.4 (12th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,869.2 (5th highest)
> Population: 1,415,872
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46. Nevada
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 403.8 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 60,462 (18th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 72,028 (21st lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,926.6 (24th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,330.4 (20th highest)
> Population: 3,080,156
45. Florida
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 375.4 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 384,556 (3rd highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 460,966 (3rd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,769.4 (19th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,144.8 (25th highest)
> Population: 21,477,737
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44. Maryland
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 340.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 97,487 (25th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 118,091 (22nd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,609.8 (15th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,950.3 (21st lowest)
> Population: 6,045,680
43. New Mexico
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 337.0 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 59,859 (17th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 66,744 (18th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,841.9 (2nd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 3,178.8 (2nd highest)
> Population: 2,096,829
42. Louisiana
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 302.0 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 133,989 (17th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 148,429 (17th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,884.4 (the highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 3,186.3 (the highest)
> Population: 4,648,794
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41. Illinois
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 296.1 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 196,287 (10th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 235,033 (8th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,559.4 (13th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,855.5 (18th lowest)
> Population: 12,671,821
40. Rhode Island
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 296.1 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 13,166 (3rd lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 16,312 (5th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,245.5 (7th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,541.5 (12th lowest)
> Population: 1,059,361
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39. Delaware
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 284.2 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 19,355 (9th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 21,932 (9th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,961.4 (25th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,245.6 (22nd highest)
> Population: 973,764
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38. Mississippi
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 239.6 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 62,351 (19th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 69,727 (20th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,101.6 (23rd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,341.2 (18th highest)
> Population: 2,976,149
37. Arkansas
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 234.3 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 79,200 (22nd lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 86,029 (25th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,613.4 (8th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,847.7 (7th highest)
> Population: 3,017,804
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36. South Carolina
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 225.4 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 141,987 (15th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 151,970 (15th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,721.1 (5th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,946.5 (3rd highest)
> Population: 5,148,714
35. Michigan
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 224.7 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 135,633 (16th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 158,317 (14th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,360.9 (8th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,585.6 (14th lowest)
> Population: 9,986,857
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34. Vermont
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 220.1 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 7,586 (the lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 8,968 (the lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,217.0 (6th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,437.1 (9th lowest)
> Population: 623,989
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33. Arizona
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 208.3 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 165,323 (12th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 177,628 (12th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,227.7 (15th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,436.0 (15th highest)
> Population: 7,278,717
32. Ohio
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 206.2 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 216,363 (6th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 240,540 (7th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,850.3 (22nd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,056.5 (24th lowest)
> Population: 11,689,100
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31. California
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 196.9 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 842,054 (the highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 921,177 (the highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,138.9 (18th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,335.8 (19th highest)
> Population: 39,512,223
30. Virginia
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 190.8 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 125,114 (18th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 140,944 (18th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,456.4 (11th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,647.2 (15th lowest)
> Population: 8,535,519
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29. New Jersey
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 176.1 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 102,875 (24th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 118,637 (21st highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,158.2 (5th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,334.3 (5th lowest)
> Population: 8,882,190
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28. Tennessee
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 168.9 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 171,675 (11th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 181,801 (10th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,492.8 (10th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,661.7 (11th highest)
> Population: 6,829,174
27. North Carolina
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 165.0 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 236,026 (5th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 251,135 (6th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,226.5 (16th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,391.4 (17th highest)
> Population: 10,488,084
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26. Indiana
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 164.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 120,453 (19th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 131,097 (19th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,783.2 (21st lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,947.7 (20th lowest)
> Population: 6,732,219
25. Texas
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 160.6 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 659,160 (2nd highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 697,305 (2nd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,245.0 (14th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,405.6 (16th highest)
> Population: 28,995,881
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24. Oklahoma
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 160.1 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 107,705 (22nd highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 113,504 (25th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,705.6 (6th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,865.8 (6th highest)
> Population: 3,956,971
23. Iowa
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 151.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 53,725 (15th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 58,446 (16th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,698.2 (18th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,849.8 (17th lowest)
> Population: 3,155,070
22. Nebraska
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 137.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 36,991 (14th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 39,553 (13th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,909.2 (23rd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,046.7 (23rd lowest)
> Population: 1,934,408
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21. Idaho
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 131.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 20,313 (10th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 22,244 (10th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,111.9 (3rd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,243.3 (3rd lowest)
> Population: 1,787,065
20. Kentucky
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 129.7 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 79,673 (23rd lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 85,387 (23rd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,779.5 (20th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,909.2 (19th lowest)
> Population: 4,467,673
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19. Oregon
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 129.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 112,782 (21st highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 117,567 (24th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,659.0 (7th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,788.5 (8th highest)
> Population: 4,217,737
18. Massachusetts
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 127.4 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 72,602 (21st lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 81,399 (22nd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,053.2 (the lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,180.6 (the lowest)
> Population: 6,892,503
17. Missouri
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 127.1 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 155,698 (14th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 163,223 (13th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,531.0 (9th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,658.1 (12th highest)
> Population: 6,137,428
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16. West Virginia
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 122.8 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 24,976 (12th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 27,327 (12th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,399.4 (9th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,522.2 (11th lowest)
> Population: 1,792,147
15. New Hampshire
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 117.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 15,014 (4th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 16,552 (6th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,098.9 (2nd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,216.4 (2nd lowest)
> Population: 1,359,711
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14. Montana
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 115.3 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 22,917 (11th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 23,929 (11th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,120.8 (22nd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,236.1 (23rd highest)
> Population: 1,068,778
13. Maine
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 91.5 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 15,610 (5th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 16,791 (7th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,156.2 (4th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,247.7 (4th lowest)
> Population: 1,344,212
12. Kansas
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 77.4 fewer crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 64,077 (20th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 66,306 (17th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,199.1 (17th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,276.5 (21st highest)
> Population: 2,913,314
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11. Washington
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 6.7 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 210,223 (8th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 207,539 (9th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,732.4 (4th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,725.7 (10th highest)
> Population: 7,614,893
10. Wisconsin
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 12.7 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 86,654 (25th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 85,796 (24th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,485.7 (12th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,473.0 (10th lowest)
> Population: 5,822,434
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9. New York
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 24.6 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 272,788 (4th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 269,787 (5th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,410.7 (10th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,386.1 (6th lowest)
> Population: 19,453,561
8. Minnesota
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 33.2 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 120,212 (20th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 117,971 (23rd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,124.9 (20th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,091.7 (25th lowest)
> Population: 5,639,632
7. Wyoming
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 42.5 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 9,379 (2nd lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 9,097 (2nd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,610.6 (16th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,568.1 (13th lowest)
> Population: 578,759
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6. North Dakota
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 124.7 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 16,256 (6th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 15,270 (3rd lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,124.1 (21st highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,999.4 (22nd lowest)
> Population: 762,062
5. Connecticut
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 132.8 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 55,670 (16th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 51,076 (15th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,565.1 (14th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,432.3 (8th lowest)
> Population: 3,565,287
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4. South Dakota
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 188.5 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 17,468 (8th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 15,686 (4th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,956.7 (25th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,768.2 (16th lowest)
> Population: 884,659
3. Colorado
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 219.2 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 164,582 (13th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 150,564 (16th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,833.8 (3rd highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,614.6 (14th highest)
> Population: 5,758,736
2. Pennsylvania
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 240.3 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 210,167 (9th highest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 179,670 (11th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 1,644.1 (17th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 1,403.8 (7th lowest)
> Population: 12,801,989
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1. Utah
> 1-yr. change in property crime rate: 295.8 more crimes per 100k people
> Property crimes reported in 2020: 80,091 (24th lowest)
> Property crimes reported in 2019: 69,469 (19th lowest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2020: 2,464.4 (11th highest)
> Property crimes per 100K people in 2019: 2,168.6 (24th highest)
> Population: 3,205,958
Methodology
To determine the states where property crime is soaring, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the change in property crime rate per 100k people from the FBI’s 2019 and 2020 Uniform Crime Reports. Property crime includes larceny-theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
Limited data was available in the 2020 UCR for areas in Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, though these states were not excluded from analysis. Because some state and local agencies changed reporting practices between 2019 and 2020, the figures are not comparable, and these areas were excluded.
Population figures are one-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. However, these estimates were not used to calculate crime rates. Crime rates per 100,000 people were calculated using population figures provided by the FBI in the 2020 and 2019 UCR.
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