What to do if you’re involved in a minor car crash
Allstate has some suggestions about what to do if you’re involved in a minor car crash. 10/31/22
Damian Giletto, Wochit
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Over 850,000 cars were stolen in the U.S. in 2024, a decrease from 2023.
The Hyundai Elantra was the most stolen car model nationwide and in 21 states, including Missouri.
The District of Columbia had the highest car theft rate per capita.
The NICB recommends preventative measures like parking in well-lit areas and hiding valuables.
More than 850,000 cars were stolen across the country in 2024, down from a peak of more than one million in 2023, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. This equates to a car stolen every 37 seconds in the U.S.
But which cars are most frequently stolen? And how can you protect yourself from vehicle theft?
Here’s what you should know.
What’s the most stolen car in Missouri?
The financial website FinanceBuzz compiled a list of the most commonly stolen vehicles and models in each state using 2024 data provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
According to the June report, the most commonly stolen car in Missouri is the Hyundai Elantra. With more than 1,000 of them stolen in Missouri alone, the Elantra was the most stolen model in the U.S. last year and the No. 1 car stolen in 21 states.
Most commonly stolen vehicles across US
The NICB found that the most commonly stolen vehicles across the country in 2024 were the following:
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Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Sonata
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Which states have the most auto theft?
The following states experienced the most car theft per 100,000 people in 2024, according to the NICB:
District of Columbia: 842.4
California: 463.2
New Mexico: 458.2
Colorado: 430.0
Nevada: 394.4
How to prevent car theft
The NICB recommends the following tips for preventing car thefts:
Park in well-lit areas.
Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
Hide valuables out of sight (such as in the glove box or trunk).
Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
Do not leave the area while your vehicle is running.
What to do if your car is stolen
You should immediately follow the steps recommended by the NICB below if your car is stolen:
Report the theft to the police: 34% of recovered stolen vehicles are found on the same day as the theft, while 45% are recovered within two days, according to the NICB. Reporting the theft to law enforcement provides a record to show to your insurer as well.
Report the theft to your insurance: Insurers often need a police report before honoring a claim. This process could be over the phone, online or directly to your insurance agent.
Be prepared to provide important vehicle information: Be prepared to provide the make/model of the vehicle, color, license plate number and VIN number.
Two Affinia Healthcare employees were recognized for their work in community health during the recent Community Health Workers Association of Missouri conference.
Candace Henderson, Affinia’s director of community health, received the organization’s Individual and Community Capacity Building Award after being nominated in eight categories. Henderson leads a team of community health workers who connect residents with health screenings and other services.
Naila Hudson, a community health worker with Affinia, received the Individual and Community Assessment Award. Her duties include coordinating mobile mammography events, conducting health screenings and assisting with the organization’s food pantry.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Jackson County grand jury indicted a man in connection with a 2024 hit-and-run that left one mad dead.
Carleno Gonzales has been indicted for first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident, according to an indictment filed Thursday.
These are the same charges Jackson County prosecutors filed against Gonzales in December 2025.
The crash occurred on Nov. 19, 2024, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and East 59th Street.
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Gonzales, driving a Chevrolet Cruze, fled the scene on foot after he struck a Chrysler 200, driven by Terrell Williams, that was stopped at a traffic light.
Witnesses at the scene saw the Cruze “driving erratically at a high rate of speed” before the crash, per court documents.
Williams died from the injuries he sustained in the collision. Court documents said a passenger in Gonzales’ vehicle was seriously injured.
Gonzales is currently in custody at the Jackson County Detention Center on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
He is set for an arraignment at 9 a.m. on June 16.
