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5 Riskiest Places to Park in Indiana
A new five-year analysis by Compare the Market reveals that 39 percent of car thefts nationwide occur at a resident’s home, while 61 percent happen when vehicles are parked away from home during everyday activities.
Indiana: 5-Year Car Theft Overview
- Total car thefts: 60,376
- Stolen at residence/home: 47%
- Stolen while away from home: 53%
In Indiana, slightly more vehicles are stolen while away from home than from the residence. To better understand where these incidents occur, we analyzed the most common away-from-home locations.
Top 5 Locations for Car Thefts Away From Home in Indiana
| Rank | Location | % of Indiana reports |
| 1 | Highway/Road/Alley/Street/Sidewalk | 37% |
| 2 | Parking/Drop Lot/Garage | 26% |
| 3 | Service/Gas Station | 6% |
| 4 | Auto Dealership New/Used | 6% |
| 5 | Hotel/Motel/Etc. | 5% |
How to Prevent Your Car from Being Stolen
While national and regional car theft trends vary, many incidents can be avoided with the right habits and equipment. Strengthening your day-to-day car security is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk, no matter which model you own.
Secure your car properly
Always lock your doors and windows, even for short periods. Park in well-lit, populated areas, and avoid leaving your vehicle in the same spot for long periods. Keep valuables out of sight, as items on seats, dashboards, or cup holders can attract thieves even if they don’t intend to steal the vehicle itself. Small behavioural changes like these can dramatically improve overall vehicle protection.
Use anti-theft devices
Visible deterrents can stop opportunistic thieves before they try. Steering wheel locks, immobilisers, and upgraded alarms remain effective, low-cost defences. For extra peace of mind, consider investing in a GPS tracking device, which can help prevent theft and increase the chances of recovery if a theft occurs.
Avoid common mistakes
Many thefts occur due to simple oversights, such as leaving the car running to warm up, hiding a spare key inside the vehicle, or failing to lock the boot. Relying solely on factory-fitted systems can leave gaps, especially for owners of highly targeted vehicles.
Adrian Taylor, Executive General Manager of General Insurance, says when it comes to safeguarding your vehicle, the right approach starts with awareness.
“Understanding which vehicles are most at risk is the first step in protecting your own,” he said. “By combining smart security habits with the right car insurance cover, you can significantly reduce both the likelihood and impact of having your car stolen.”
“Car theft continues to impact motorists, particularly those driving popular and older vehicles. Simple security measures such as steering wheel locks, alarms and GPS tracking devices can significantly reduce the risk of theft.”
Before purchasing any policy, drivers should check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) to understand limits, inclusions, or restrictions.
More information on the most stolen car brand can be found onsite: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/car-insurance/features/most-stolen-car-brands-and-models/
Data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/) For each state, the total number of reported car thefts was analyzed by location type. The share of thefts for each location was then calculated by dividing the number of thefts at that location by the total number of reported car thefts, producing the percentage of thefts broken down by location.