Valley guide
Car stolen or keys taken
In 2023, the Phoenix Police Department recorded 9,364 stolen vehicles, roughly 26 every day and 1.7 times the national rate. By 2025 the number had dropped to 5,932, which is still 1.8 times the national rate (FBI Crime Data Explorer).
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Vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents, Phoenix vs. United States
Phoenix Police DepartmentUnited States
The car is gone
- If it is happening now or just happened, call 911. Otherwise file a police report, which your insurer will ask for.
- Open a claim with your insurance company.
- If the car has a tracker or a connected app, give the location to the police and let them recover it.
The car is back
Have every old key deleted from the car's immobilizer. A locksmith or the dealer can program fresh keys and wipe the old ones, so the stolen key becomes a useless piece of plastic. Look hard at the ignition and the driver's door: a cylinder that was forced or punched needs repair or replacement. And leave with two working keys, since a spare cloned now costs far less than one made from scratch later.
| Survey | Work | National price band |
|---|---|---|
| Fixr cost guide, 1/2025 | Replacement car key | $70 to $250 |
| KBB, 7/2025 | Chip (transponder) key | $125 to $250 Key and programming together |
| KBB, 7/2025 | Flip key with folding blade | $150 to $300 |
| KBB, 7/2025 | Push-button smart key | $200 to $400 |
Only the keys were taken
A stolen key with the car still in your driveway is a theft that hasn't happened yet. Get that key wiped from the car the same day. If the ring also held your house key, or anything showing your address, rekey the house too. Rekeying.
The neighboring cities had peaks of their own: Glendale reached 1,565 thefts in 2023 and Mesa 1,384 in 2023 (FBI). Phoenix police reports can be requested online for the insurance claim. Every year, city by city.
Questions people in Phoenix ask
Do I need a new key if my car was recovered?
If a key went with the thief, yes, and have that key erased from the car as well. If the thief started the car without a key, expect ignition repair.