San Francisco car thefts down 59%, break-ins down 82%

San Francisco saw car thefts fall almost 59% in the first eight months of 2026 versus the same period in 2022, with car break-ins down over 82%, per police data analyzed by NPR. Officials credit Flock Safety's AI license plate cameras and drones, though a study of 216 agencies found only an 11% drop in thefts in the first year.

• Car thefts in San Francisco fell 59%, break-ins fell 82%
• Flock cameras were installed starting March 2024 after Prop E passed
• Study of 216 agencies found an 11% first-year drop in car thefts
• Critics warn of surveillance and civil liberties concerns