How common is a car break in in San Francisco?
There's an average of 74 car break-ins a day in San Francisco, according to crime data crunched by NBC Bay Area's Investigative Unit.
According to SFPD incident reports, thefts from vehicles have been increasing across the city but not back to pre-pandemic levels. However in the Central Police District where tourist areas like Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and Downtown are located - there were about 1,000 more incidents reported in 2022 than in 2019.
Cars are less likely to be broken into when they appear empty - never leave valuables in your vehicle. Avoid carjacking by staying alert when you stop. If carjacked, do not resist. Give up your car and go to a safe place to dial 9-1-1.
According to a national crime survey, 37% of car thefts occur on residential streets in front of the victim's house. In addition, a crime report out of Houston revealed that two of the top three most broken-into parking places were in residential areas: apartment parking lots and driveways.
Car thieves tend to steer clear of highly-visible areas, especially if there are security cameras or nosy neighbors around. This is especially important at night between 2 and 5 a.m. Since most people are asleep, that's the most common time for cars to be stolen.
Is San Francisco safe for cars? Yes, but you will need to be smart about making sure your car is safe. Most parking in San Francisco is on the streets or highly trafficked parking lots. Many people think they will be safe due to the volume of pedestrian traffic around, so they leave things in plain sight.
San Francisco Sees 3,000 Car Break-Ins in 1 Month; 'It's Out of Control' SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A recent video of an auto-burglary on a busy San Francisco street shows just how commonplace it is and how residents have become inured to the situation. Tourist hot spots are popular places for car burglars.
The data reaffirms what many San Francisco residents and visitors to the city can attest to: Intersections in tourist areas are the hardest-hit areas for break-ins. For example, at North Point and Larkin streets, there were 374 break-ins in 2022, the most in the city, and up from 143 in 2018.
Police-reported car thefts in San Francisco
Car thefts in San Francisco increased from January 2019 to December 2022 while overall crime in the city dropped. What's happening: San Francisco saw car thefts increase by about 42% from 2019 to 2022, according to data from the San Francisco Police Department.
- Secure Your Vehicle. Roll your car windows up all the way and engage the car alarm, but do not depend on it as the only way to deter a thief. ...
- Keep Your Vehicle Tidy. Thieves like to window shop! ...
- Conceal All Proof. ...
- Stash Before You Park. ...
- Park Smart.
What do car burglars look for?
Thieves will steal anything valuable, but the most common items stolen from cars tend to be electronics, personal information, and accessories.
But, as it turns out, the middle seat is statistically the safest seat in the car! Why is the middle seat safest? Simply stated, the middle seat is the furthest from impact during a collision, as well as the furthest away from air bags.
It makes sense when you think about it: Curtain airbags notwithstanding, the middle seat puts you farther away from side impacts. The center position is the safest spot in the vehicle, especially for children. If you're a passenger in a three-row SUV, the middle seat of the middle row is the safest bet, Rader said.
Citywide, the number of theft from vehicle incidents has dropped since pre-pandemic 2019, from 288 to 269 incidents per 10,000 residents. The five neighborhoods in San Francisco with the highest number of car break-ins per 10,000 residents in the 12 months prior to July 14, 2023, are: North Beach: 2,285.
Most stolen cars | ||
---|---|---|
Rank | Most stolen vehicle | Number of thefts |
1 | Ford Pickups (Full-Size) | 44,014 |
2 | Chevrolet Pickups (Full-Size) | 40,968 |
3 | Honda Civic | 34,144 |
Park in a well-lit and well-trafficked area: Thieves are less likely to target a car that is in a well-lit and well-trafficked area, as it increases the chances of them being seen or caught.
Just Visiting San Francisco
And if you are going to be spending all of your time within SF's borders, you really don't need a car. San Francisco has a good public transportation system and ample capacity from taxis, Uber and Lyft. In fact, Uber and Lyft were founded in SF and they both have a strong presence there.
🔑 Traffic: San Francisco is a busy and congested city, and traffic can be heavy during peak hours. If you don't feel comfortable navigating through busy city streets, or if you're not used to driving in hilly terrain, then you may want to consider using public transportation or Ubering instead.
Bakersfield, CA, tops the list for the third year in a row, with the highest automobile theft rate in the U.S., according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau 2021 Hot Spots Report. The theft rate in Bakersfield in 2021 was 1,023.68 vehicles stolen per 100,000 residents, a 13 percent increase over 2020.
On average, the city suffers about 74 car break-ins per day, according to police records for the month of October.
Where to keep your car in San Francisco?
- 99 S Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94103. ...
- 190 10th Street. San Francisco, CA 94103. ...
- 300 Treat Ave. San Francisco, CA 94110. ...
- 611 2nd Street. San Francisco, CA 94107. ...
- 2690 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118. ...
- 2587 Marin Street. San Francisco, CA 94124. ...
- 2090 Evans Ave.
However, San Francisco has an ongoing car break-in problem. So, we wouldn't recommend parking on the street if you are unsure about the neighborhood's safety. Your other option is 24-hour public parking facilities like the Union Square Garage and Sutter-Stockton Garage downtown.
Driving and parking in the city can be a hassle, especially during commuter hours. Fortunately, the city has dependable public transportation that makes every San Francisco neighborhood accessible. The network of Muni buses and trains, cable cars, and streetcars makes getting around San Francisco a breeze.
A new dataset from SFPD offers a holistic look into the landscape of car theft in San Francisco, a segment of crime that skyrocketed in the city during the pandemic. According to the data, 44,888 cars were reported stolen in San Francisco from 2013 to 2022 and Hondas accounted for 34% — with 15,124 thefts.
agencies reported 5,500 incidents of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft or arson per 100,000 San Franciscans. Data in 2020 shows that the city's burglary rate was 67% above the average of 20 other major cities. Motor vehicle thefts and theft (larceny) were also higher than average at 37%.
Overall, San Francisco is a safe city, and you shouldn't have any major trouble walking around downtown.
You can also leave both indoor and outdoor lights on, so it gives the impression that someone is there. You may also want to leave your car in the driveway, so a burglar will believe someone is inside, though now it may instead leave your car open to be vandalized.
That's because classic cars:
May be easier to break into and steal than new cars. Are typically harder to track down or identify by licensing authorities when they're stolen.
The safest place to keep car keys at home is as far from the front door as possible. This will reduce the risk of them being grabbed and, in the case of modern car keys, prevent the wireless signal from being easily amplified in a relay theft. Likewise, always keep fobs in RFID bags/Faraday cages when not in use.
The burglars in this particular study did not come to a clear consensus on whether lighting was a sufficient deterrent: "Responses were mixed regarding lights on in a home. Some said it was a deterrent. But one burglar said the combination of lights on and blinds closed created an attractive location."
What is the most common entry point for burglars?
These are the most common points of entry for home break-ins: Front door: 34% of burglars twist the doorknob and walk right in. First-floor windows: 23% use a first-floor open window to break into your home. Back door: 22% come in through the back door.
- 13 2023 Jaguar XF. Safety Feature: InControl Remote And Protect Services. ...
- 12 2023 Tesla Model S. Safety Feature: Sentry Mode. ...
- 11 2023 Land Rover Defender. ...
- 10 2023 BMW X3. ...
- 9 2023 Nissan Leaf. ...
- 8 2023 Tesla Model X. ...
- 7 2023 Audi A4. ...
- 6 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan.
- Small Car. Acura Integra.
- Midsized Cars. Subaru Outback. Toyota Camry (built after January 2023)
- Large Luxury Car. Genesis G90.
- Small SUVs. Honda CR-V. Honda HR-V. ...
- Midsized SUVs. Hyundai Palisade. Kia Telluride. ...
- Midsized Luxury SUVs. Acura MDX. Acura RDX. ...
- Minivans. Honda Odyssey. ...
- Large Pickups. Rivian R1T.
The rear center position will be the furthest from any impact in any type of crash. The researchers also found the most common location in the vehicle for a car seat was the rear passenger side.
🔑 Traffic: San Francisco is a busy and congested city, and traffic can be heavy during peak hours. If you don't feel comfortable navigating through busy city streets, or if you're not used to driving in hilly terrain, then you may want to consider using public transportation or Ubering instead.