Vehicle Thefts Plunge 25% Across California, But Imperial County Sees Little Improvement
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. - Vehicle thefts across California dropped sharply in 2025, but the trend was not reflected in Imperial County, where the number of reported stolen vehicles remained nearly unchanged, according to newly released data from the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP’s 2025 Vehicle Theft Fact Sheet shows that 133,372 vehicles were stolen statewide in 2025, down from 176,230 in 2024 - a decrease of approximately 25%. Statewide, a vehicle was stolen about every four minutes during the year.
In Imperial County, however, reported vehicle thefts remained relatively flat, decreasing slightly from 458 thefts in 2024 to 456 in 2025.
State officials have credited the statewide decline to expanded crime suppression efforts and targeted enforcement operations conducted by the CHP.
According to KYMA, California Highway Patrol Capt. Ernesto Ruedas said Imperial County’s proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border continues to make the region a target for organized vehicle theft.
“We’ve definitely seen a lot of the big trucks being stolen—Silverados, F-150s, the Jeeps… Jeep Wrangler and Gladiators,” Ruedas told KYMA. “Those are big targets, and being so close to the border, we are a target because those vehicles end up in Mexico… a lot of them end up in Mexico.”
According to KYMA, investigators say organized criminal groups often target larger pickup trucks and SUVs because they can be used to travel through rugged terrain while transporting illegal narcotics or smuggled people. Once stolen vehicles cross the international border, they are often difficult to recover.
Despite theft numbers remaining steady, Imperial County saw an increase in recovered stolen vehicles.
The CHP reported that 297 stolen vehicles were recovered in Imperial County in 2025, compared with 241 recoveries in 2024, an increase of 23.2%.
Statewide, law enforcement recovered 111,661 stolen vehicles, representing an 84% recovery rate. According to the CHP, more than half of those recovered vehicles were returned to their owners in drivable condition.
The CHP continues to encourage residents to take steps to reduce the risk of vehicle theft, including:
Locking vehicle doors and closing all windows.
Never leaving keys or key fobs inside a vehicle.
Avoiding leaving valuables in plain sight.
Parking in well-lit, populated areas whenever possible.
Using visible anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks or GPS tracking systems.
Never leaving a vehicle running and unattended.
The agency also reminds anyone who witnesses a vehicle theft in progress to call 911 immediately and provide as much information as possible, including the vehicle’s make, model, color, license plate number, and a description of any suspects.
Anyone whose vehicle has been stolen should report it to their local law enforcement agency or the California Highway Patrol as soon as possible and have their license plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and vehicle description available to assist investigators.