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City of Madison

MPD sees drop in theft from autos; here are ways to help continue downward trend

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MADISON, Wis. – The Madison Police Department is sharing ways people can prevent having their property stolen from their vehicles.

  • Lock your vehicle doors and close the windows  
  • Do not leave keys in your vehicle
  • Never leave your vehicle running unattended
  • Park in well-lit areas
  • Remove valuables:
    • Firearms
    • Money 
    • Backpack, purses, wallets, etc.
    • Cell phones
    • Garage door openers
  • If you park in a secure parking garage, make sure nobody follows you inside  
  • Utilize steering wheel locks
  • Close your garage door

There were 111 theft from auto incidents reported in Madison from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025. The theft from auto incidents reported in the fourth quarter of 2025 represented a 34.7% decrease when compared to the third quarter of 2025, when we had 170 theft from auto incidents.  Similarly, the data also represents a decrease when compared to the fourth quarter in 2024.

Graphic showing icons for the tasks of lock it, remove it, light it, close it, hide it, report it.
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