Auto Theft Prevention in Minnesota

Submit a Complaint
2020 UCR Data by Agency with Zip (.xlsx)

Submit a tip about:

Information on the location of a stolen vehicle
Information about stolen vehicle parts
Information about an individual or business stealing vehicles, using stolen vehicles, or using stolen vehicle parts

Use caution to avoid auto theft:

Always take your vehicle's key with you; do not leave keys inside or on your vehicle.
Close and lock all windows and doors when you leave your vehicle .
Whenever possible, park in well-lit areas..
Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.
Find more information in National Insurance Crime Bureau "Vehicle Theft" brochure (English or Spanish).

Catalytic Converter Theft Prevention Pilot Program

The Minnesota Legislature in 2021 directed Commerce to create a plan for marking catalytic converters of vehicles the most at risk for theft. The law (Minn. Stat. 325E.21) requires Commerce to gather feedback from law enforcement, insurance companies and scrap metal dealers to identify the most at-risk vehicles and establish marking techniques to deter and prevent these thefts.

More info: Catalytic Converter Pilot

Buying a Vehicle
Beware of “cloned” vehicles.

How the Scam Works
- The criminal copies the VIN (vehicle identity number) from a legally owned, documented vehicle parked in any location the criminal can access.
- The criminal steals a vehicle similar to the one with the legitimate VIN.
- The criminal then replaces the stolen vehicle’s true VIN tag with the counterfeit VIN tag, making the stolen vehicle a “clone” of the original.
- The criminal sells the “cloned” vehicle to an unsuspecting buyer, typically using counterfeit ownership documents or documentation they have obtained under false pretenses.
- Car thieves often travel across state and international borders to sell vehicles at the highest prices. Because most licensing agencies do not check for duplicate ownership when an out-of-state ownership document is surrendered, the odds of discovery are fairly low.
Learn more about buying a vehicle from the Nation Insurance Crime Bureau
How to Protect Your Vehicle
- Most cars are stolen because the driver left keys inside the car. Take your vehicle's keys with you when you leave every time - even at your home!
- Never leave your vehicle running unattended.
- Close and lock your windows and doors.
- Park in a well-lit area.
- Use an alarm and other theft deterrent devices.
- Take your valuables with you.
- Mark your catalytic converter.
Auto Theft News