Vehicle thefts are down throughout Peninsula neighborhoods. Last year, police responded to 193 vehicle thefts in the Beacon’s coverage area, a four-year low, and down from 341 in 2022.
Times of San Diego analyzed police data and found that car prowls have dropped steadily over the past five years.
This year appears to be following that trend.
Police data from January through Sept. 19 shows officers were called 119 times to investigate car prowls. Barring any unexplained surge, 2026 will likely set a five-year low for smash-and-grabs.
The Point Loma Heights neighborhood, long the Peninsula’s top spot for car prowls, has seen a dramatic drop in reports.
The data shows that Point Loma Heights reported 55 thefts from motor vehicles, a four-year low since 2022, when police responded to 115 car prowl calls.
The drop in car prowl reports meant the neighborhood was no longer the top neighborhood for vehicle break-ins. That title went to the Midway District, which in 2025 surpassed Point Loma Heights for the first time in three years, with 64 car prowls reported to police compared to 55 in Point Loma Heights.
Ocean Beach has had the third-highest number since 2022.
Since 2022, car prowlers have established some favorite blocks to hit. A stretch of Sports Arena Boulevard had the most break-ins, from the 3500 block at Pechanga Sports Arena east three blocks to the retail strip mall that houses Target, Ross, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The 3500 block of Sports Arena Boulevard had the most car break-ins since 2022, with 57 reported car prowls since 2022. The third-highest block for break-ins was at 3800 Marquette Place in Point Loma.
To prevent your car from getting broken into, San Diego Police recommends, first and foremost, to make sure to lock your vehicle and to hide anything of value from the peering eyes of would-be car prowlers.
