All crime types / Reported incidents
Theft in Chicago — reported incidents
Every figure here counts incidents reported to the Chicago Police Department and classified as theft, from the city’s daily open data file. Reports are allegations at the time of filing — they can be reclassified, and an arrest recorded on a report is not a conviction.
30,730
Reported so far in 2026
Incidents reported to CPD
55,180
Reported in all of 2025
Full calendar year
2,223
Reported in the last 30 days
down 45% vs the previous 30 days
9%
Reports with an arrest, 2026
2,853 of 30,730 reports
Theft reports, last 12 months
Monthly totals, Sep 2025 – Aug 2026. Peak: 4,792.
Most common theft offenses, 2026
- $500 And Under8,827
- Over $5007,669
- Retail Theft7,532
- Theft From Motor Vehicle3,724
- From Building2,061
- Pocket-Picking627
- Attempt Theft155
- Purse-Snatching115
Where it is reported, 2026
- Street6,488
- Apartment4,245
- Small Retail Store3,294
- Department Store2,526
- Residence2,318
- Parking Lot / Garage (Non Residential)1,037
- Residence - Porch / Hallway1,014
- Restaurant969
Where reports are most concentrated, 2026
- Near North Side2,535
- Loop1,814
- Near West Side1,702
- Lake View1,405
- West Town1,267
- Austin1,026
- Lincoln Park929
- Logan Square890
- South Shore768
- Uptown751
These are raw report counts by community area. They track population, daytime activity and how often incidents are reported — not the risk to any individual.
Domestic-related reports
1,740 of the theft reports filed in 2026 — 6% — are flagged as domestic-related under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. The flag is applied by CPD when the report is filed.
Theft in Chicago: common questions
- How common is theft in Chicago?
- 30,730 theft incidents have been reported to the Chicago Police Department so far in 2026, compared with 55,180 in all of 2025. These are reported incidents as classified by CPD, not convictions.
- How many theft arrests are made in Chicago?
- 2,853 of the 30,730 theft reports filed in 2026 — 9% — record an arrest. An arrest noted on a report means someone was taken into custody in connection with it; it is not a conviction, and cases can be reclassified or closed later.
- When did theft reports peak this year?
- Among the months of 2026 covered by the 12-month chart on this page, May had the most theft reports, with 4,627. Counts for the most recent days may still be loading.
- Where in Chicago is theft reported most?
- In 2026 the community areas with the most theft reports are Near North Side, Loop, Near West Side. These are raw counts, which track how many people live and travel in an area and how often incidents get reported — they are not a measure of individual risk.
Source
- Crimes — 2001 to Presentupdated dailyofficial portal ↗
Counts reflect reported incidents as classified by the Chicago Police Department, not convictions. The most recent days may still be loading, so current-month totals can rise. Reports are sometimes reclassified or removed after review, which changes historical counts. Figures on this page refresh at least hourly.