McDowell County Among North Carolina’s Auto Theft Hotspots, Study Finds

McDowell County ranks among the counties with the highest motor vehicle theft rates in North Carolina, according to a new analysis of federal crime data covering the five-year period from 2020 through 2024.

The research by personal injury law firm CR Legal Team analyzed data from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, placing McDowell County fourth statewide, with an average of 20.53 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents. That rate is more than three times the statewide average of 6.8 thefts per 100,000 residents, or 201.4% higher than North Carolina overall.

Data show vehicle thefts in McDowell County peaked in 2021 and 2022, with 11 reported thefts in each of those years. The lowest annual total during the study period occurred in 2020, when four thefts were reported. The county’s average population during the five years was approximately 44,800 residents, according to federal population estimates used in the analysis.

While larger urban counties often record higher raw numbers of reported crimes, the study highlights how per-capita rates can reveal disproportionate impacts in smaller or mid-sized counties like McDowell.

“Motor vehicle theft trends often mirror broader community challenges, including economic conditions and available law-enforcement resources,” a spokesperson for CR Legal Team said. “Counties with higher rates may benefit from targeted prevention efforts and community safety investments.”

McDowell County trails only Clay, Polk, and Richmond counties, which recorded the highest auto theft rates statewide during the same period. Clay County ranked first, with an average of 25.84 thefts per 100,000 residents, followed by Polk at 22.12 and Richmond at 21.25.

Other counties rounding out the top 10 include Wilkes, Madison, Sampson, Caldwell, Perquimans, and Transylvania.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Tyrrell County recorded zero motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents during the study period, the lowest rate among counties analyzed.

Motor vehicle theft is classified as a property crime under federal and state reporting standards. According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, property crime trends statewide have fluctuated in recent years, with some declines reported overall even as vehicle theft remains a persistent concern in certain regions.

Law enforcement officials continue to encourage basic prevention measures, including locking vehicles, removing keys and valuables, and using visible anti-theft devices.

The study relied on FBI Crime Data Explorer statistics from 2020 through 2024 and calculated average annual theft rates per 100,000 residents to compare counties across the state.