Los Angeles, niche of car thieves
In 2024, 176,230 cars were stolen in California, an average of 482 per day
Eleven stolen cars were recovered, 31 weapons, including machine guns, and the arrest of six suspects of being part of a sophisticated car thieves ring was dismantled.
The names of the six arrested during a raid on Long Beach Performance in Long Beach were not released because the investigation is ongoing.
Members of the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction (RAID) task force began their investigation into Long Beach Performance in December 2024, allegedly conducting criminal activity in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Orange counties, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Nine months later, on August 26, detectives and officers from multiple agencies, including the CHP Inland and Southern Divisions, the Long Beach, Riverside, and Anaheim police departments, the San Bernardino County Gang and Auto Theft Task Force, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the Department of Insurance, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), participated in the investigations.
“This investigation underscores the dedication of RAID and our partners to identifying, investigating, and dismantling criminal organizations operating across state and county lines,” said CHP Lt. Kraig Palmer.
Palmer added that the takedown of the criminal network reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of safety, service, and security to Californians.
“We are committed to protecting our communities by holding offenders accountable, while working collaboratively with our partners to ensure a safer California,” he added.
Members of the sophisticated car theft ring altered Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), falsified DMV documents, and were involved in narcotics and firearms trafficking, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The criminal organization had 11 stolen vehicles confiscated, the total estimated value of which ranged between $1.$25 million.
Authorities also recovered 31 firearms, including several machine guns.
While July is annually considered National Car Theft Prevention Month, official data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) shows that in 2024, criminals stole 176,230 vehicles in California, an average of 482 daily.
These figures represented a 13% decrease, since in 2023 thefts reached 203,000, and of all stolen vehicles statewide, nearly 85% were successfully recovered.
Of the 176,230 vehicles stolen in 2024, 43.44% were personal vans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), 39.38% were cars, 6.04% were commercial trucks and trailers, and 4.73% were motorcycles. The remaining vehicles (e.g., recreational vehicles, farm and construction equipment, and specialty construction vehicles) accounted for 6.40% of the thefts.
The most frequently stolen cars are the 2015 Kia Optima, 2013 Hyundai Elantra, and 2013 Hyundai Sonata.
The pickup trucks and SUVs that most attract thieves are the 2001, 2002, and 2006 Chevrolet Silverado.
The most stolen motorcycles are the 2024 Miscellaneous Import, 2022, and 2023 Honda, and among the most stolen commercial trucks are the 2015, 2016, and 2019 Freightliner.
“We are proud to see fewer vehicle thefts across the state. The CHP and our law enforcement partners work hard every day to stop these crimes, protect California communities, and hold criminals accountable,” said in a statement. Statement by CHP Commissioner Sean Durvee.
“Every week I see cars abandoned on the street with their tires and rims removed,” said Enzo Berzian, a security guard at Fresco Market in Highland Park. “Most of the stolen cars are Hondas and Chevy Silverados. I’ve only seen them towed by the police.”
“There are security cameras, but that doesn’t stop the thieves,” Enzo said. “They just leave them lying around and mount them on bricks.”
His father, who works at a Costco store in the city of Alhambra in the San Gabriel Valley, said that cars are commonly stolen from the parking lot there.
Pablo Avitia, a convenience store employee in East Los Angeles, said a 2008 Saturn SUV parked on Atlantic Street was stolen in 2020.
“I found it on Garfield Street,five blocks away. “They abandoned it because it didn’t have gas,” said the man originally from Durango, Mexico.
Now, he’s installed a switch on his new truck that prevents it from pumping gas if someone tries to steal it.
“I spent almost $300.00 to install that switch,” he revealed. “If you take it, you’ll only be able to go a block or less.”
Los Angeles, a hotbed for thieves
In 2024, approximately 53.21% of all vehicle thefts occurred in Southern California, in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties.
According to the CHP, 61.83% of vehicle thefts in Southern California occurred in Los Angeles County.
Approximately 25.36% of all vehicle thefts occurred in the Bay Area. San Francisco (Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Solano, and Marin counties), of which 42.99% occurred in Alameda County.
Approximately 11.31% of all vehicle thefts occurred in the Central Valley, in Kern, Fresno, San Joaquin, Tulare, Stanislaus, Merced, Kings, and Madera counties. Of the vehicle thefts in the Central Valley, 31.15% occurred in Kern County.
“The government is to blame for so many cars being stolen,” said Santiago Manzano, an immigrant from Nayarit, Mexico, who had a 2005 Honda stolen three years ago. The car was found two months later when police tracked its movement using the Global Positioning System (GPS).
“Although the The car was intact, I think the police should take a hard line on thieves. You know that when they get stolen, they are dismantled and the parts sold at salvage yards.”
Of the 176,230 vehicles stolen statewide in 2024, 84.59% were successfully recovered, representing a total of 149,080 vehicles.
Likewise, of that total vehicles stolen statewide in 2024, the CHP reported that 93.62% of cars, 89.46% of personal trucks and SUVs, 75.45% of commercial trucks, and 57.34% of motorcycles were recovered.
And, among the 149,080 vehicles recovered statewide in 2024, 53.23% were recovered intact and in roadworthy condition, 28.72% were intentionally burned or vandalized, 6.67% were dismantled, and 3.34% were missing major components.