Antioch Continues to See Increase in Vehicle Thefts

The City of Antioch continues to get hit hard by vehicle theft with a total of 769 through June 15, 2024 which is on pace to surpass 2023 numbers.

Through May, the city reported 703 total vehicle thefts, however, with another 32 last week, they have already experienced 66 through June 15. Back on June 3, Antioch Police responded to multiple vehicles on fire where 5 vehicles were determined stolen and located within a homeless encampment.

Other Contra Costa County Cities Stolen Vehicle Theft Data (Jan – May 2024)

• 703 – City of Antioch
• 519 – City of Richmond
• 184 – City of San Pablo
• 59 – City of Brentwood
• 53 – City of Walnut Creek
• 49 – City of Martinez
• 33 – City of Pleasant Hill

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Kia and Hyundai vehicles experienced the highest theft rates in 2023, breaking the years-long trend of full-size pickups topping the list. Also featured on this list behind Hyundai and Kia models are full-size pickups and additional mid-size cars, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, and Ford F150 Series Pickup

On June 6, the Antioch Police Department issued an alert for Kia owners:

In 2023, the California Highway Patrol said there was a 2.1% increase in vehicles stolen with 202,802 stolen vehicles at an estimated $1.8 billion—1 vehicle every 2:36 minutes. Of the 202,802 vehicles stolen in 2023, 44.2 percent were personal trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUV), 41 percent were automobiles, 5.8 percent were commercial trucks and trailers, and 4.3 percent were motorcycles. All other vehicles (e.g., recreational vehicles, construction and farm equipment, special construction) accounted for 4.7 percent of thefts

In 2023, for the second time, the top three stolen automobiles were:

1.  2015 Kia Optima
2. 2000 Honda Civic
3. 1998 Honda Civic

For the third consecutive year, the Chevy Silverado remained a vehicle of choice for thieves who continued targeting personal trucks/SUVs, specifically model years 2001, 2002, 2006, and 2004, which ranked one, two, and three, respectively

The California Highway Patrol has these tips to help you avoid thefts:

Always:

• Always lock your vehicle.
• Always utilize anti-theft devices.
• Always park your vehicle in a well-lighted area at night.
• Always make sure you receive an ownership certificate when purchasing a used vehicle.

Never:

• Never leave your keys in your vehicle.
• Never hide a spare ignition key on the vehicle.

More theft protection tips:

• Install an audible alarm system.
• When possible, park your vehicle in a secure garage.
• Beware of your surroundings prior to leaving your vehicle.
• Access the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System at vehiclehistory.gov or through a third party like CarFax to check a car’s VIN before you purchase it. Learn more about NMVTIS with these videos in English and Spanish.

Related Stories:

• June 13 – Stolen Vehicles Catch Fire at Homeless Encampment in Antioch
• June 2 – Antioch Police Impound 6 Vehicles, Make Multiple Arrests During Sideshows
• May 8 – Antioch Has 514 Vehicle Thefts Year-to-Date in 2024
• Feb 27 – Antioch Residents Hit With 220 Stolen Vehicles So far in 2024