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SLCPD Highlights Reduction in Car Thefts & Car Burglaries

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department has seen a dramatic decrease in both auto theft and vehicle burglaries in 2023 thanks in part to the work of detectives assigned to the SLCPD’s Auto Theft and Property Crimes units.

“The work of our detectives and officers directly impacts our community,” said Chief Mike Brown. “A 29% reduction in both auto theft and vehicle burglaries is a testament to the work of our officers and professional staff, as well as our stratified policing model. It’s also a challenge to all of us to continue our strategies to reduce crime throughout our city.”

As of Sunday, November 26, 2023, more than 450 fewer cars have been stolen in Salt Lake City, a drop of 29% when compared to the same period in 2022.

In 2020, nationwide, there was a significant spike in stolen cars and Salt Lake City was not immune to this surge. However, the Salt Lake City Police Department has worked with the district attorney’s office to ensure stronger cases for prosecution. Additionally, the district attorney’s office has pushed for greater accountability for repeat offenders. Many of the city’s previous chronic offenders have been incarcerated and/or are on parole. Additionally, the Salt Lake City Police Department continues to see success with the use of its license plate reader technology to identify occupied stolen vehicles traveling through the city.

Furthermore, the drop in stolen car cases can also be attributed to the work of the detectives assigned to the SLCPD’s Auto Theft Unit. In addition to handling all auto theft investigations, detectives deploy into the field to track down known vehicle theft offenders who have warrants or to look for, and recover, stolen vehicles.

The SLCPD Auto Theft Unit periodically does multi-day operations, using various department resources and technology to assist in making arrests and recovering vehicles. These operations have an immediate and direct impact on other crimes being committed in Salt Lake City.

Vehicle Burglaries

Year-to-date, city-wide, more than 1,200 fewer cars have been broken into when compared to 2022. This is a 29% decrease.

Detectives assigned to the SLCPD Property Crimes Unit work hard to identify those responsible for vehicle burglaries and other thefts, then work with our law enforcement partners and the courts to hold the offenders accountable.

The Salt Lake City Police Department continues to use the principles of stratified policing to improve policing services, reduce crime and minimize the harm caused by offenders and maintain our positive relationship with our community.

To address the criminal activity occurring within Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake City Police Department is utilizing a well-established and researched model of hot spots, or “focus area,” policing. Through this process, the Salt Lake City Police Department has increased police visibility at and around addresses where violent crime is concentrated, based on crime analysis.

Year-to-date, violent crime is down 11% citywide, property crime is down 14%, and overall crime is down nearly 13%.

Photo: A file photo of a Salt Lake City Police patrol car (Salt Lake City Police Department, file photo).

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