Classic Car Theft: A Locked Garage or Shop Gate Doesn't Mean the Car Is Safe

Current as of November 2026.

Sa Bernardino County recorded 7,759 vehicle thefts in 2025, down 23.3% from 2024.

That drop is real. It also hides a kind of theft that the numbers don't show well: older, collectible cars taken from places their owners trusted. Maybe you just got your license and your first set of keys belongs to a family Impala, a Chevelle or an older project car. Here's the short answer. A locked garage, or a locked gate at a body shop, will not keep a classic safe by itself. This year two California thieves got past exactly those defenses. One crew used a dolly. The other simply found the keys. Both cases point to weak spots you can fix yourself, and most of the fixes cost very little.

Aren't car thefts going down in California?

They are.

Thieves stole 176,230 vehicles in 2024, and that decreased to 133,372 in 2025

according to the CHP. Even so,

a vehicle was stolen in California about every four minutes in 2025.

That trend tells you about cars in general. It tells you much less about a classic sitting in a garage. A new driver who hears "thefts are down" may relax, leave the keys on a hook by the garage door and post photos of the car online. Those are the habits thieves look for.

The money involved can be huge. After the La Puente theft, shop owner Giovanni Robles put the restored Impala at

"around $60,000 to $80,000 worth of a classic car"

. A common car might cost a few thousand dollars to replace. A restored classic can be worth tens of thousands, and some of what was lost can't be bought back at any price.

Why do thieves go after a classic differently than a daily driver?

Look at how the two 2026 thefts happened. In La Puente, at R&E Collision Center,

surveillance video captured the group breaking a lock, opening the shop's gate and rolling the Impala out of the lot and onto the street. The thieves then used a two-wheel dolly to take the car.

They never needed to start it. In Sacramento, the method was even simpler. Someone broke into the owner's garage,

finding the keys and driving away in the classic muscle car.

The car's age changes the risk, but so does the way the car is used. A daily driver moves every day and is usually parked where people can see it. A classic often sits still for weeks. When it goes in for repairs, it may stay at the shop for a long time. The Impala

had been undergoing repairs for about a year following a crash.

It was stolen right near the finish line.

The Impala had received a fresh coat of paint three days before it was stolen. It was parked outside, behind a locked gate, as the paint cured.

The planning stood out. Giovanni Robles, owner of the La Puente shop, told ABC7: "I'm sure we were under surveillance." The thieves weren't driving around hoping to get lucky. They picked this car, studied the lot and waited until it was parked outside and easy to roll away.

Your own habits matter too. If you park in the same place at school or work every day, or post your car with a location tag, anyone interested in it can learn its routine. A new driver may not think of a 1970s sedan as a target. Thieves do. The rules around older vehicles and what pays to replace them keep changing, and recent trends in coverage show how quickly things shift for owners.

What does losing a classic actually cost?

The cost of a classic theft runs from small to huge. At the low end, you might be paying for a cut lock, a damaged garage door or a broken steering column on a car that's found quickly. At the high end, you lose the whole car, and with a restored classic like the Impala, that can mean $60,000 or more.

Then there's getting around. If the classic is your only car, you suddenly can't get to school, practice or your first job. Waiting for police and sorting out paperwork can take weeks.

There's also legal exposure. A stolen car might be used in other crimes or crash before anyone finds it. Reporting the theft right away, with a police case number, creates a clear record that the car was out of your hands. The longer you wait, the harder that record is to build.

What should I ask a body shop before I leave my car there?

Every new driver eventually has a fender bender, and for a classic that can mean months at a shop. Before you sign anything, ask where the car will spend the night: inside a locked building or outside behind a gate. Ask whether cameras cover the gate and who holds your keys. Then ask the question most owners skip. Shops carry garagekeepers coverage for customers' cars, so ask what the limit is and whether it matches what your car is actually worth. If your car is financed, ask your lender what they require while it's being repaired.

Write everything down. Photograph every angle, the VIN plate, the odometer and the interior. Keep receipts and restoration records. The Sacramento owner's case listing described his car closely:

gray/silver with a black soft top, two black center stripes, a black leather interior, and chrome/aluminum wheels.

Details like that help people spot a stolen car. Building good records is part of the same money and protection basics that help any young adult.

Where are the weak spots in a home garage?

The biggest weak spot is usually hanging on a hook. In the Sacramento case, the thief broke in, found the keys and left. Keep keys inside the house, away from the garage door, and never in the car.

After the keys, look at the door. Older garage doors and side doors with cheap locks don't slow anyone down for long. A steering wheel lock, a battery cutoff switch or a hidden GPS tracker gives a thief one more problem to solve. Several of them together can make your car more trouble than it's worth.

Watch for warning signs: the same unfamiliar truck passing your house more than once, someone photographing your driveway, or a stranger asking about the car online. Neighbors in Ontario who share local protection habits tend to notice these things sooner. Also plan ahead for how you'd get to school or work if the car disappeared tomorrow.

Do stolen classics ever come back?

Many stolen cars do.

Of the 133,372 cars stolen across California last year, 84% were recovered.

Classics are harder. They can be repainted or taken apart for parts. Owners who already have photos, records and a VIN on file can get the search started within hours. The Chevelle's owner got help from

Marc Hinch, a retired California Highway Patrol auto theft investigator

and that kind of search goes much better when the details are ready.

Something you can finish this weekend

Walk out to your garage. If the keys are there, move them inside. Photograph your car from all four sides, plus the VIN, the odometer and anything unique, like a dent or a custom part. Write down the plate number. Save all of it in a folder you could find quickly if you needed it. This takes less than an hour, and it costs nothing.

Common Questions

Is a classic car safe in a locked garage?

Not by itself. In the 2026 Sacramento theft, someone broke into a garage, found the keys inside and drove the Chevelle away in about two and a half minutes. Keep keys in the house and add a second barrier, like a steering wheel lock or a battery cutoff.

Who pays if my car is stolen from a body shop?

Shops carry garagekeepers coverage for customers' cars, but the limit may not match a restored classic's real value. Your own policy may also apply, depending on how it's written. Ask the shop about its limit before you leave the car.

What should I do first if my classic is stolen?

Call the police and get a case number. Then give them your photos, VIN and a detailed description. Moving fast helps, because thieves can change a car's look within days.

Did California car thefts go down in 2025?

Yes. The CHP reported 133,372 thefts in 2025, compared with 176,230 in 2024. Collectible cars are still targets, and thieves often plan these thefts ahead of time.

Protecting Your First Classic With the Right Coverage

The right insurance for a classic depends on what the car is worth and how and where you drive and store it, and that's where Farmers Insurance - Young Douglas can help. The agents can go over your policy with you, explain how complete coverage may apply to theft, and check whether rental reimbursement or roadside assistance fits how you use the car. They can also help you look at liability limits, collision and uninsured motorist protection as a new driver, and gap coverage if the car is financed. When you're ready, you can review your current coverage at no cost.

Sources:

• California Highway Patrol. "California Sees Second Straight Year of Vehicle Theft Declines." California Highway Patrol, July 2026. chp.ca.gov/news-alerts/news-list/california-sees-second-straight-year-of-vehicle-theft-declines/
• ABC7 Los Angeles. "Brazen Theft of 1965 Chevy Impala Caught on Surveillance
• Video at La Puente Body Shop." ABC7 Los Angeles, August 2026. abc7.com/post/la-puente-classic-car-theft-1965-chevy-impala-stolen-body-shop/
• CBS Sacramento. "Sacramento Garage Theft Video Shows 1970 Chevy Chevelle Stolen." CBS News Sacramento, October 2026. cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/sacramento-garage-theft-video-1970-chevy-chevelle/

DISCLOSURE: This article may feature independent professionals and businesses for informational purposes. Farmers Insurance - Young Douglas collaborates with some of the professionals mentioned; however, no payment or compensation is provided for inclusion in this content.