Mirroring a statewide trend, the number of auto thefts in the San Diego area last year dropped sharply, the California Highway Patrol reported Tuesday.
The tally of 8,023 stolen vehicles in San Diego County in 2025 was down 25.7% from the year before, roughly the same percentage as seen across California over the same period, according to the CHP.
The county, however, is among the top three in the state as far as vehicle thefts. Los Angeles leads, followed by Alameda and San Diego.
Statewide, about 133,000 vehicles were stolen last year, as compared with 176,230 over the prior 12 months. It’s the second consecutive year of declining automobile thefts in California.
On average, a vehicle theft occurred in California every four minutes in 2025, according to the CHP. Of the 133,372 autos stolen statewide last year, 84% were recovered — a total of 111,661 vehicles. More than half were returned to their owners in drivable condition.
Statewide, the top targets for auto thieves were the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, 2015 Kia Optima and 2013 Hyundai Sonata.
In 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed CHP officers to work alongside local law enforcement agencies in regional crime-suppression operations.
Targeted details in Bakersfield, Oakland and San Bernardino helped contribute to reductions in vehicle thefts and other crime in those communities and culminated in California’s first year-over-year decrease in vehicle theft since 2019, according to state officials.
Newsom expanded the program in August 2025 by deploying additional teams to other parts of California, including San Diego County.
Other counties that saw steep declines in vehicle theft in 2025 include Alameda, at 36.1%, Kern, at 31.4%, and San Bernardino at 23.3%.
While the CHP led the way by far in vehicle recoveries, the San Diego Police Department was among the top agencies in the state to find cars for their owners, with 1,888 recoveries.
The CHP remains committed, Commissioner Sean Duryee said, “to recovering stolen vehicles and working with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer.”
The agency released the data as July, National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, draws to a close.
