Milwaukee Data Report
Milwaukee car theft isn't over, and your car may still be a target
In early 2026, a car is still stolen in Milwaukee about 11 times a day. That is down from nearly 29 a day at the 2021 peak, but still above where the city was before 2020. The good news: the cars thieves target most can be locked down for free, and there is settlement money on the table.
The short version
- Down, not done. Theft has fallen roughly 60% from the 2021 peak, but the easy targets are still 2015-2022 Kias and Hyundais with no engine immobilizer.
- The fix is free, and many owners skip it. A free software upgrade (or a free hardware part for older models) stops the method thieves use.
- You may be owed up to $4,500. A January 2026 settlement pays affected owners for a qualifying theft after April 29, 2025.
- Stolen and found? You owe the city nothing. Milwaukee waives its tow and storage fees with a police report.
Theft is down, but it isn't over
The headline number is good. Milwaukee vehicle thefts have fallen hard from the 2021 peak of more than 10,000. They were down to about 5,900 in 2024, fell another 21% in 2025 to roughly 4,700, and early-2026 is down 19% from the year before, on pace for about 4,200. Nationally, theft fell 23% in 2025. Carjackings in Milwaukee are down sharply too.
Sources: Milwaukee Police Department and FBI, via FOX6 and WPR. 2021-2024 are reported totals (2024 is the FBI count). 2025 and 2026 are estimates (striped): MPD reported auto theft fell 21% in 2025 but has not published the exact count, so 2025 applies that drop to 2024; 2026 annualizes the first-quarter pace. The official 2025 figure is expected later in 2026.
So why does it still matter? Two reasons. First, theft is still well above pre-pandemic levels, so the risk is real, just lower. Second, the playbook is shifting. As Kias and Hyundais get patched, thieves are moving to keyless relay attacks and OBD-port hacks on trucks and other sedans. The Ford F-150 dropped sharply on the national list after Ford added a remote engine block. The lesson is simple: the cars that get protected stop getting stolen.
Three things changed in your favor
Each one is worth acting on, and each is below.
The cars still most at risk
The vehicles thieves take are the 2015-2022 Kia and Hyundai models that use an insert-and-turn steel key and shipped without an engine immobilizer, the chip that stops a car from starting without the right key. A method that spread on social media starts one in under a minute. Newer Kias and Hyundais with a push-button start were never part of the problem.
Source: NICB Hot Wheels, 2023 data. Six of the ten wear a Kia or Hyundai badge, and the Hyundai Elantra was the most-stolen car in the country again in 2024.
The free fix most owners still skip
This is the part that matters most, and it is the one too many people never get around to. If you own an affected Kia or Hyundai, the fix costs nothing.
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Get the free software upgrade
For most affected 2011-2022 turn-key models, the automaker installs anti-theft software free at any dealer in under an hour. It adds an alarm and an "ignition kill" so the car will not start without the key. Check whether your VIN qualifies at the maker's anti-theft site.
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If your car can't take the software, get the free hardware
Some models cannot run the upgrade. For those, the makers now provide a free reinforced ignition-cylinder protector that blocks the steering-column attack. Owners are being notified, and there is a deadline of March 2027 to have it installed, so do not wait on the letter.
If neither has been done to your car, it is still as easy to steal as it was in 2021. The thieves know which models were never fixed.
You may be owed up to $4,500
In January 2026, Kia and Hyundai agreed to a roughly $9 million settlement for owners hit by these thefts. If your affected car was stolen after April 29, 2025 and totaled, you can claim up to $4,500. Partial-loss and attempted-theft claims pay smaller amounts. The window runs through March 2027, but the fund is capped and paid first-come, so file as soon as you can if you qualify. Keep your police report and insurance paperwork; you will need both.
Stolen and recovered? You owe the city nothing
A normal Milwaukee tow and impound runs $150 for the tow plus $25 a day for storage. But if your car was stolen and used without your consent, and you filed a police report, the City of Milwaukee waives its tow and storage fees. Wisconsin's new Act 46 keeps that exemption for stolen-vehicle owners. Bring the police report and proof of ownership to claim it. A private tow lot is not the city lot and may charge its own fees, so confirm where your car went (the city tow lot line is 414-286-2700).
The first hour after a theft
What you do in the first hour shapes whether you get the car back. Cars reported within 24 hours are recovered the same day about a third of the time.
- Make sure it was stolen, not towed or ticketed. Check for tow and no-parking signs first.
- Call police and file a report right away. Have the make, model, year, color, plate, and VIN ready.
- Get the police report number, then call your insurer to open a claim. They will not pay without it.
- Notify the Wisconsin DMV so the VIN is flagged as stolen, and tell your lender if the car is financed.
For the lot process, see getting a car out of the Milwaukee lot and the 2026 impound rules.
How to protect your car
Beyond the free fix, prevention works in layers. No single step is foolproof, but stacking two or three makes your car a harder target than the one parked next to it, and that is usually enough.
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Add a steering wheel lock
A visible bar lock turns a 60-second theft into a problem most thieves skip. Milwaukee police have handed these out free to Kia and Hyundai owners during the surge. Supplies come and go, so call your police district to ask, or buy one for about $30.
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Park where theft is hard
A locked garage is best. On the street, pick a well-lit spot with cameras or foot traffic. If your garage opens onto an alley, back in. Thieves want quick, quiet, and unseen.
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Use a tracker or immobilizer
The NICB recommends layers: a warning device like an alarm, an immobilizer like a wheel lock, and a tracker so a stolen car can be found fast. A hidden GPS tag is cheap insurance.
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Never leave it running unattended
A car warming up in the driveway on a cold Milwaukee morning, keys in the ignition, is the easiest theft there is. Take your key, lock the doors, and keep valuables out of view.
Frequently asked questions
Is car theft still a problem in Milwaukee in 2026?
Yes, though it has fallen a lot. Thefts are down roughly 60% from the 2021 peak and dropped another 19% in early 2026, but they are still above where the city was before 2020. The cars most at risk are still 2015-2022 Kias and Hyundais with an insert-and-turn key.
What is the free Kia and Hyundai anti-theft fix, and who can get it?
Owners of affected 2011-2022 turn-key models can get free anti-theft software installed at any dealer in under an hour. Check your VIN at the maker's anti-theft site. Cars that cannot take the software get a free reinforced ignition-cylinder protector instead, with a deadline of March 2027 to install it.
Can I get money from the Kia and Hyundai theft settlement?
Maybe. A settlement reached in January 2026 pays affected owners up to $4,500 for a qualifying total-loss theft that happened after April 29, 2025. The fund is capped and paid first-come, so file early if you qualify.
If my stolen car is found, do I pay the city tow fee?
No. Milwaukee waives its tow and storage fees for a vehicle that was stolen and used without your consent, as long as you filed a police report. Here is how to get a towed car out of the city lot.
What should I do in the first hour if my car is stolen?
First make sure it was not towed or ticketed. Then call police and file a report right away; cars reported within 24 hours are recovered same-day about a third of the time. Get the report number, call your insurer, and notify the DMV and your lender if the car is financed.
What is Wisconsin Act 46?
A state law signed in October 2025 that expanded Milwaukee's power to impound vehicles used in reckless driving. Owners of stolen vehicles are exempt from the impound fees.
Car stolen and recovered? We tow it home.
If your car turned up across town and needs to get home or to your shop, we cover the full Milwaukee metro and dispatch in 20-45 minutes.
(414) 409-0291Request a tow
Dispatch usually responds within 5 minutes, 24/7. For active emergencies, call directly - it's faster.
Related reading
Sources and methodology
The 2021-2024 theft counts are police-reported (2024 is from FBI data). The 2025 and 2026 bars are estimates, marked as such, because Milwaukee Police reported the 2025 decline (down 21%) but has not yet published the exact count, which is expected later in 2026. The "about 11 a day" figure annualizes Milwaukee's first-quarter 2026 count. Confirm dollar amounts and program availability with the City and your dealer before relying on them.
- Kia and Hyundai theft settlement, up to $4,500 (January 2026)
- Milwaukee 2025 year-end crime data, auto theft down 21% (CBS 58)
- Milwaukee first-quarter 2026 crime data, down 19% (FOX6)
- Milwaukee vehicle-theft history and ranking (WPR)
- Most-stolen U.S. vehicles, NICB Hot Wheels rankings
- Free Kia and Hyundai anti-theft software upgrade
- The free ignition-cylinder hardware fix (Cars.com)
- City of Milwaukee tow fees and the stolen-vehicle waiver
- Vehicle-theft prevention basics (NHTSA)
- How to report a stolen vehicle (NICB)
Last updated: June 17, 2026.