Part of the Administration Bureau, the Auto Theft Unit (ATU) is comprised of a sergeant and six detectives. Their mission includes:

•  reduction of auto thefts through education and enforcement

•  location and recovery of stolen vehicles

•  investigation of “chop shops” and career offenders

•  creation of partnerships with the community and outside agencies to foster a collaborative approach to combating auto theft

Click on the tabs below to learn more about auto theft and things you can do to protect your car and your neighborhood.

Auto theft by the numbers for 2020:

  • Over 600 vehicles were stolen because a key was left in the vehicle (center console, under floor mat, hide-a-key, etc.)
  • Over 200 additional vehicles were stolen because they were left running and unattended.

Utah 2020 most stolen cars, as reported by NICB:

Type Year Number Stolen
1. Ford Pick-Up (Full Size) 2006 546
2. Honda Civic 1998 513
3. Honda Accord 1997 391
4. Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size) 2004 315
5. Dodge Pick-Up (Full Size) 2012 151
6. GMC Pick-Up (Full Size) 1999 142
7. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee 2015 137
8. Honda CR-V 1998 125
9. Subaru Legacy 1998 119
10. Toyota Camry 2012 115
10. Nissan Altima 2013 115

Data found on NCIB.

  • DO lock your doors and roll up your windows when you park.
  • DO activate your security system.
  • DO consider window tinting as allowed by law.
  • DO use a steering lock or another device to visibly disable the steering column.
  • DO park in a well-lighted space.
  • DON’T use the console or glove box as a mobile lockbox — car prowlers report they will pry into locked boxes.
  • DON’T leave a running car unattended. This creates opportunity for criminals.
  • DON’T leave your key in the ignition just because you have remote access.
  • DON’T leave cell phones, cell phone chargers, purses and other indicators of valuables in plain sight. It provides incentive to criminals.
  • DON’T leave your car title in the car.

Victims of auto theft should follow the steps below to assist Auto Theft Detectives in their investigation, as well as to avoid being victimized again should any personal information in the vehicle be compromised by the perpetrator.

  1. The registered owned must be the individual filing the report of a stolen vehicle in order for it to be placed on the National Crime Information Center database.
  2. Provide detectives with accurate information about the make, model and distinguishing characteristics of the stolen vehicle.
  3. Provide detectives a record of all items inside the car, including serial numbers. That information will be cross checked against a database of items at local pawn shops. With a serial number, the ability to recover your stolen items is greatly enhanced.
  4. If your cell phone, banking documents (credit cards, bills, etc.) or insurance information were in the vehicle, contact all providers to alert them to the situation and take appropriate actions to secure your accounts.
  5. Consider contacting a consumer credit reporting company and using its services to monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. There may be a fee for these services. Alert law enforcement if anything suspicious is reported to you by these agencies.
  6. Make sure you’ve given all available contact numbers to the officer taking your report. If your vehicle is located, you will have a limited time to respond to the scene before it is sent to the impound lot. Impound and storage fees are the responsibility of the owner.
  7. The registered owned must be the individual filing the report of a stolen vehicle in order for it to be placed on the National Crime Information Center database.
  8. Provide detectives with accurate information about the make, model and distinguishing characteristics of the stolen vehicle.
  9. Provide detectives a record of all items inside the car, including serial numbers. That information will be cross checked against a database of items at local pawn shops. With a serial number, the ability to recover your stolen items is greatly enhanced.
  10. If your cell phone, banking documents (credit cards, bills, etc.) or insurance information were in the vehicle, contact all providers to alert them to the situation and take appropriate actions to secure your accounts.
  11. The registered owned must be the individual filing the report of a stolen vehicle in order for it to be placed on the National Crime Information Center database.
  12. Provide detectives with accurate information about the make, model and distinguishing characteristics of the stolen vehicle.
  13. Provide detectives a record of all items inside the car, including serial numbers. That information will be cross checked against a database of items at local pawn shops. With a serial number, the ability to recover your stolen items is greatly enhanced.
  14. If your cell phone, banking documents (credit cards, bills, etc.) or insurance information were in the vehicle, contact all providers to alert them to the situation and take appropriate actions to secure your accounts.
  15. Consider contacting a consumer credit reporting company and using its services to monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. There may be a fee for these services. Alert law enforcement if anything suspicious is reported to you by these agencies.
  16. Make sure you’ve given all available contact numbers to the officer taking your report. If your vehicle is located, you will have a limited time to respond to the scene before it is sent to the impound lot. Impound and storage fees are the responsibility of the owner.