All crime types / Reported incidents
Motor Vehicle Theft in Chicago — reported incidents
Every figure here counts incidents reported to the Chicago Police Department and classified as motor vehicle theft, from the city’s daily open data file. Reports are allegations at the time of filing — they can be reclassified, and an arrest recorded on a report is not a conviction.
11,610
Reported so far in 2026
Incidents reported to CPD
17,253
Reported in all of 2025
Full calendar year
1,084
Reported in the last 30 days
down 35% vs the previous 30 days
4%
Reports with an arrest, 2026
436 of 11,610 reports
Motor Vehicle Theft reports, last 12 months
Monthly totals, Sep 2025 – Aug 2026. Peak: 1,731.
Most common motor vehicle theft offenses, 2026
- Automobile9,009
- Attempt - Automobile1,171
- Theft / Recovery - Automobile1,089
- Cycle, Scooter, Bike With Vin225
- Truck, Bus, Motor Home49
- Cycle, Scooter, Bike No Vin30
- Theft / Recovery - Cycle, Scooter, Bike With Vin13
- Attempt - Truck, Bus, Motor Home12
Where it is reported, 2026
- Street8,811
- Parking Lot / Garage (Non Residential)887
- Vehicle Non-Commercial382
- Residence306
- Alley268
- Apartment195
- Residence - Yard (Front / Back)104
- Driveway - Residential96
Where reports are most concentrated, 2026
These are raw report counts by community area. They track population, daytime activity and how often incidents are reported — not the risk to any individual.
Domestic-related reports
197 of the motor vehicle theft reports filed in 2026 — 2% — are flagged as domestic-related under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. The flag is applied by CPD when the report is filed.
Motor Vehicle Theft in Chicago: common questions
- How common is motor vehicle theft in Chicago?
- 11,610 motor vehicle theft incidents have been reported to the Chicago Police Department so far in 2026, compared with 17,253 in all of 2025. These are reported incidents as classified by CPD, not convictions.
- How many motor vehicle theft arrests are made in Chicago?
- 436 of the 11,610 motor vehicle theft reports filed in 2026 — 4% — record an arrest. An arrest noted on a report means someone was taken into custody in connection with it; it is not a conviction, and cases can be reclassified or closed later.
- When did motor vehicle theft reports peak this year?
- Among the months of 2026 covered by the 12-month chart on this page, July had the most motor vehicle theft reports, with 1,714. Counts for the most recent days may still be loading.
- Where in Chicago is motor vehicle theft reported most?
- In 2026 the community areas with the most motor vehicle theft reports are Austin, Near West Side, West Town. These are raw counts, which track how many people live and travel in an area and how often incidents get reported — they are not a measure of individual risk.
Source
- Crimes — 2001 to Presentupdated dailyofficial portal ↗
Counts reflect reported incidents as classified by the Chicago Police Department, not convictions. The most recent days may still be loading, so current-month totals can rise. Reports are sometimes reclassified or removed after review, which changes historical counts. Figures on this page refresh at least hourly.