From 2014 through 2017, an average of more than 2,000 vehicles were stolen on the Fourth of July holiday each year, which ranks the holiday in the middle of the list of highest-risk holidays for vehicle thefts, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

There were 8,068 vehicles stolen for those four years. In 2017, 2,124 vehicles were stolen on Independence Day.

It's not the highest day for auto thefts on record, but rather somewhere right in the middle. The data comes from the National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) stolen vehicle file and it’s something that fleet managers should share with any driver who will be on duty this Independence Day.

Remind your driver’s to take steps to prevent against vehicle theft. The National Insurance Crime Bureau suggests drivers make use of the following common sense practices:

• Remove keys/fobs from the vehicle

• Lock all doors and windows

• Park in a well-lit area

• Use a visible or audible warning device, such as audible alarms, wheel locks or theft deterrent decals, if possible.

In the future, fleets might consider additional protective steps such as installing immobilizing devices, which prevent thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle.

Finally, a tracking device, which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen, can serve as an additional layer of protection. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles, according to the NICB.