This piece is by Adam Haworth, President of LotGuard
Rising trends, targeted vehicles, and security strategies every business should consider.
Vehicle theft began to decline in the first half of 2025, with 334,114 vehicle thefts reported, but with the rising TikTok trends highlighting the makes and models of cars to be targeted, rising metal value leading to increased interest in car components, and technological developments providing loopholes for criminals, car theft is still a prominent threat across the country. Criminals adapt their methods quicker than businesses can respond, highlighting the need for awareness.
Car theft represents financial, reputational, and operational damage to businesses. Whether they’re providing customers or an apartment complex with parking, or operating a commercial premises, car theft has a significant impact on business owners. From increased insurance premiums, operational disruption, liability claims, reputational damage, and strained community relationships, each risk is posed to businesses as a result of car theft. These impacts often create long-term consequences that continue long after an incident has taken place, and trust can be lost in moments and regained only through consistent action.
Key Insights from 2025 Data
Data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) indicates that the Hyundai Elantra, the Hyundai Sonata, and the Honda Accord are the most commonly stolen vehicles. The more that businesses are aware that these vehicles are the favourites for thieves, the more they can tailor security measures when they notice one of these vehicles in the parking lot. Awareness is a powerful preventive tool because it allows businesses to shift attention to the right place at the right time.
Washington DC, California, Nevada, and New Mexico report the highest car theft rates. The more location-aware businesses are, the better prepared for any theft that may occur and to implement robust security strategies within these states. It also helps businesses to justify increased investment by linking security measures to real data. Using regional crime data as a guide gives business owners the evidence they need to introduce higher security budgets, strengthen management frameworks, or adopt AI-supported monitoring.
Parking lots are vulnerable to crime. Poor lighting, low visibility, predictable vehicle patterns, and a lack of any surveillance make parking lots an easy target. Increasing the risk of car theft is the popularity of keyless cars, yet older cars are also easier to gain access to. Multiple entry and exit points to parking lots, alongside the large size, act as a more accessible and protected way for thieves to not be caught. Parking lots often give criminals a lot of time to carry out a theft. They can blend into crowds and move between cars without attracting attention.
Businesses underestimate how quickly a theft can occur. Incidents can take less than one minute, and when a thief knows the design weakness of a parking lot, the time can drop further. Criminals typically study routines, identify vulnerabilities and target vehicles during the quietest moments of business operations. This leads to theft occurring even in locations deemed as safe.
Prevention and Protection
Businesses must take a proactive and strategic approach to parking lot security to reduce vehicle theft. A comprehensive security audit helps businesses to identify crime hotspots, weak points, and environmental factors that are more susceptible to crime. Audits also highlight issues that employees may overlook during their day-to-day. They create a baseline that businesses can measure improvement against over time. Audiots also ensures that every security investment directly supports a proven vulnerability rather than relying on outdated assumptions.
Once audits are completed, businesses should invest in mobile surveillance technology, high-quality lighting, and intelligent monitoring systems to drastically increase deterrence. The environment of the parking lot itself should also be looked into. Barriers, controlled access points, and regular human patrols will further strengthen on-site protection by limiting opportunities for thieves to go unnoticed. When a parking lot feels secure, people act differently, and thieves decide that uncertainty increases the risk of being caught. Signage, visible cameras and staff presence all play a role in showing a location is actively monitored, resulting in a significant decline in opportunistic crime.
Effective security extends beyond infrastructure. Employees and customers must be educated on safe parking practices. By fostering a culture of awareness, businesses will understand the urgency of car theft, and paired with the audit insights, they can protect vehicles and reinforce trust, enhance reputation, and demonstrate a commitment to safety within communities.
Vehicle theft will continue throughout the years. As technology and security measures evolve, thieves adapt their strategies alongside. They will continue to exploit vulnerabilities as they appear, and businesses need to remain proactive to keep communities safe. Forward-thinking companies recognise that security is not a one-time project but an ongoing process requiring frequent reassessment. By investing before thefts occur and staying ahead of the threats, the goal is not only to prevent crime but to build an environment where crime is less likely to occur at all.
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