DES PLAINES, Ill., Nov. 16, 2017 — New data released today by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) shows a total of 22,705 vehicles were reported stolen on the 11 holidays in 2016 covered in this report. NICB theft data is pulled from the National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) stolen vehicle file, which showed a total of 803,719 vehicle thefts for the year.
 
Halloween was the top holiday with 2,578 reported thefts. Halloween was followed, in descending order, by Labor Day (2,258); New Year’s Day (2,242); Memorial Day (2,139) and New Year’s Eve (2,110).
 
Download the complete report and an infographic.
 
The holidays with the fewest thefts in 2016 were: Christmas Day (1,664); Thanksgiving (1,777); Valentine’s Day (1,789); President’s Day (2,008) and Christmas Eve (2,054).
 
Holidays ranked by the number of thefts in 2016 were:
 
  1. Halloween (2,578)
  2. Labor Day (2,258)
  3. New Year’s Day (2,242)
  4. Memorial Day (2,139)
  5. New Year’s Eve (2,110)
  6. Independence Day (2,086)
  7. Christmas Eve (2,054)
  8. President’s Day (2,008)
  9. Valentine’s Day (1,789)
  10. Thanksgiving (1,777)
  11. Christmas Day (1,664)
 
California was the number one state with the most holiday vehicle thefts in 2016 with 5,285. It was followed, in descending order, by Texas (2,121); Florida (1,397); Washington (889) and Georgia (763).
 
NICB reminds drivers to be vigilant and to secure their cars during this season as vehicle thieves are not filled with the holiday spirit. Some will definitely make a gift to themselves of your vehicle if you make it easy for them.

Media Contact

If you have a question, want further information on the NICB, or to discuss insurance fraud or vehicle crime, please contact:

Chris Stroisch
Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications
847.450.9814
cstroisch@nicb.org

Or, if you are a reporter and have a request or question, please complete the Media Request Form.

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422) or submitting a form on our website.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. The NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $582 billion in insurance premiums in 2021, or more than 82% of the nation's property-casualty insurance. That includes more than 96% of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more, visit www.nicb.org.