If you’re a resident of Arizona, it’s worth noting which of the cities within your state have the highest rates of car theft and vandalism. While this may not be a pleasant topic to discuss, your knowledge of these statistics will help you prevent becoming a victim of car theft through wise insurance decisions. These statistics fluctuate all the time, but for the most part, the most prevalent car theft cities have been placed first and move down from there.
Phoenix
Due to the size of Arizona’s capital, Phoenix tends to stay at the number one spot for cities with the highest car theft rates. This city has several main highways that allow hijackings. But it’s also worth noting that many shopping areas are yet to provide secure parking for their customers. This inevitably leads to car theft in relatively high numbers since there is also a high demand for car parts in Phoenix.
Mesa
Mesa is relatively close to Phoenix, so the problem seems to spread to this major city as well. Mesa also has a relatively high number of vehicles since most residents prefer to drive themselves rather than use the public transport offered by the city. Car vandalism is also prevalent in Mesa. So, is vandalism covered by car insurance? In many cases it is, but you may need to check with your policy provider to make sure what the conditions of your cover are.
Tucson
Tucson is close to the Mexican border. This gives car syndicates ample opportunity to dodge authorities for a short while before crossing the border and taking advantage of their stolen cars without much pressure. Mexican gangs make a substantial living off of selling car parts, which contributes to the high vehicle theft rate in this Arizona city.
Peoria
Peoria is also rather close to Phoenix. But notably, there seems to be an increase in car ownership within this particular city. This may be one of the reasons car thieves are targeting Peoria lately since many new car owners are less observant about keeping their cars safe, locking them securely, or parking them in safer areas.
Glendale
Glendale is a densely populated city with a large percentage owning cars. There’s also a significant delivery network across many industries, and these delivery vehicles are not always immune to vehicle theft. Glendale accommodates its many residents by providing countless shopping districts, and this is where car thieves tend to wait patiently until a fitting opportunity to steal a car arises.
Yuma
Yuma is another city that’s relatively close to the US-Mexican border. But comparative crime is another factor worth noting. Since there are many in Yuma who are economically well off, there are also those who are not. This wide difference in economic status leads to comparative crime and ultimately leads to higher car theft statistics and even vehicle vandalism.
Chandler
Chandler is a growing city that’s spiked in its development over the past few years. More people are entering the workforce, purchasing cars, and moving up in their careers. With city growth comes city growing pains, and crime is one of them. Car theft isn’t as high as in some of the larger cities, but it is one of the top 10.
Scottsdale
There are several parts of Scottsdale that are more affluent than neighboring areas. This again leads to comparative crime, where those of a lower economic status tend to target affluent neighborhoods. Scottsdale is also focused on tourism, which brings in a lot of foreign and national visitors to the city. This can often become a hotbed for car thieves who take advantage of crowded areas, especially parking areas.
Avondale
Avondale finds itself right in the middle of Phoenix’s metro area. This is a heavily crowded area, making crime prevention a challenge for local authorities. The same factors as other cities play a factor here, such as varying economic states, high demand for car parts, and hundreds of crowded parking lots.
Tempe
Tempe has several colleges, and most college students own older cars that tend to be easier to break into or steal. Tempe is also close to Phoenix, where car syndicates outsource their theft activities by targeting neighboring cities. The main reason for car theft is not the car itself but the money these thieves make by stripping the vehicles and selling the parts. This high demand for cheap car parts is what drives theft in Tempe as well.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve noted, many of the high car theft-rated cities in Arizona are in close proximity to metro areas and the main city of Phoenix itself. Factors such as high population, developing areas, and unsafe parking lots contribute to high car theft rates. So, if you live in any of these areas, make sure your car insurance is up to date.
