United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Vehicle Theft Prevention

About

Vehicle theft can happen anytime, anywhere, to anyone. Informing drivers of theft prevention is essential. This material includes resources to help drivers better protect their vehicle. 

Many assets are available in English and Spanish. Share this information with partner organizations to help spread the message across communities. 

July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month – a good opportunity to increase messaging.  

Facts

  • In 2024, there were over 850,700 vehicle thefts reported.
  • Vehicle thefts decrease by 17% from 2023 to 2024.
  • The top 10 states for vehicle thefts in 2024:
  1. California
  2. Texas
  3. Florida
  4. Illinois
  5. Washington
  6. New York
  7. Colorado
  8. North Carolina
  9. Ohio
  10. Missouri
     

Talking Points

We've prepared talking points related to vehicle theft prevention. After downloading, we encourage you to add local stats and facts to the document. 

Message Boards

HIDE VALUABLES

LOCK UP VEHICLE

TAKE YOUR KEYS

PARK IN LIGHTED

AREA TO PREVENT

AUTO THEFT

TURN OFF CAR

BEFORE YOU

WALK AWAY

DOORS LOCKED

WINDOWS CLOSED

VEHICLE SECURED

PREVENT THEFT

LOCK UP CAR

ONCE YOU PARK

TURN OFF CAR

LOCK UP AND

TAKE YOUR KEYS

DONT LEAVE A

RUNNING VEHICLE

STOP CAR THEFT

PROTECT

YOUR VEHICLE

NO KEYS INSIDE

PARK IN LIGHT

HIDE YOUR STUFF

LOCK YOUR CAR

Download All Text

Social Media

Sample social media posts are available for you to use on your various social media platforms, including Facebook, X and Instagram.

  • Coming Soon: Spanish

Graphics

Asset Type

English
Additional Protection | English
Seconds | English
Tips | English
Top States | English
Yearly | English
Spanish
Additional Protection | Spanish
Seconds | Spanish
Tips | Spanish
Top States | Spanish
Yearly | Spanish

Awareness Month

July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and you'll see increased communication related to vehicle theft prevention. You can use any of the material available on this page to increase your messaging.

Also, sample news releases can be downloaded and used during Vehicle Theft Prevention Month.

  • Coming Soon: Spanish

Additional Resources