While conventional wisdom suggests nightfall provides cover for illicit activity, the Nextbase study reveals a counterintuitive reality: more vehicle crimes of opportunity now occur during daytime hours than at night. Even more unsettling is the primary location of these offenses—not downtown lots or shadowy backstreets, but residential driveways.
“We know that vehicle-related crimes tend to spike in the summer,” said Bryn Booker, Head of Road Safety at Nextbase, in a statement. “People are outside more, doors are left unlocked, windows down, and criminals are often lurking nearby. But what we’re seeing now is a more aggressive pattern. These aren’t stealth operations under cover of darkness. These are daytime hits in suburban neighborhoods, with families just inside their homes.”
The survey, conducted this spring by Drive Research, gathered responses from 1,000 American car owners. Its results suggest that rising economic pressures, continued inflation, and the proliferation of high-tech vehicles may be pushing opportunistic criminals to act more brazenly—and more often.
High Costs, Low Resolution
The financial toll of these crimes is considerable. According to the data, the average value of items stolen from vehicles exceeds $600. When it comes to vandalism, the numbers rise sharply: the average repair bill comes to $2,295. And with each incident, a secondary cost emerges—higher insurance premiums. Forty percent of those who filed insurance claims after a burglary saw their rates increase. In cases of vandalism, that number rose to nearly 50 percent.
The impact is perhaps most severe in car theft cases. More than half of stolen vehicles were less than three years old—an indicator that newer models, packed with technology and retaining resale value, are especially attractive to thieves. Nearly 80 percent of theft victims reported the crime to their insurance companies, and close to half experienced a hike in their premiums as a result.
Despite the prevalence of these crimes, accountability remains rare. Though more than 60 percent of victims reported their incidents to police, only 20 percent of offenders were ultimately arrested, according to survey respondents. The disparity highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in investigating and resolving property crimes, especially in cases with limited evidence.
A Digital Witness
Among car owners who had a dash cam at the time of their incident, 90 percent said they would recommend the technology to others. Those without one? Over 70 percent regretted not having it.
“Just like people install doorbell cameras or home surveillance systems, it’s now critical that car owners consider similar protections for their vehicles,” Booker said. “Dash cams are no longer just tools for proving fault in traffic accidents. They’re a full-time digital witness—at red lights, in parking lots, and especially when your car is parked at home.”
Nextbase argues that the evolving role of dash cams—from traffic incident documentation to crime deterrence—is more relevant than ever in an era when both criminal activity and insurance premiums are on the rise. The company’s latest models offer high-resolution video, parking mode surveillance, and cloud connectivity, which allow users to access footage remotely and share it instantly with authorities or insurers.
As incidents become more frequent and costly, Nextbase says smart surveillance tools will become indispensable—not just for those driving on highways, but for anyone whose car spends hours parked outside and unattended.
The Price of Peace of Mind
For many Americans, their car is among the most valuable assets they own—second only to their home. But while homeowners invest readily in locks, cameras, and alarm systems, vehicle security often takes a backseat. That may be changing. The report’s timing, just as millions of Americans take to the road for summer travel, serves as a warning that vigilance is no longer optional.
As crime evolves, so must the tools to fight it. A dash cam may not stop a break-in or deter a bold midday thief. But it can help identify the perpetrator, support an insurance claim, and perhaps most importantly, give car owners back a sense of control.
“In today’s environment, technology can make the difference between resolution and frustration,” Booker said. “And that difference begins the moment you press record.”
About the Study:
The survey was commissioned by Nextbase and conducted by Drive Research in spring 2025, polling 1,000 car owners across the United States. It focused on vehicle-related crimes, insurance impacts, and dash cam usage trends.