Auto Thefts on the Rise in Tulsa

In Tulsa, Okla. auto thefts increased from 3,280 in 2018 to 3,381 in 2019, reports KJRH.

What’s more, there have already been been 142 vehicles reported stolen in 2020, which translates to an average of 11 auto thefts a day.

The problem has been on the rise in Tulsa for some time. Data from Insurify ranks Tulsa as the 14th highest city in the U.S. for car thefts in 2018 surpassing larger cities such as Portland and San Francisco, notes the report. The rate is about 505 cars per 100,000 people, which is at least twice the national average.

The Tulsa Police Department told KJRH that 60-70% of the stolen vehicles in the city are due to motorists leaving their keys in their vehicles — making them an easy target for thieves.

Leaving keys or fobs in the vehicle is a national problem as well.

In 2018, there were 747,841 vehicle thefts in the United States. The National Insurance Crime Bureau determined that a total of 81,911 vehicles stolen that year were appropriated with the keys or fobs left in them. That represents 11% of the national total.