Mirroring a statewide trend, the number of auto thefts in the San Diego area last year dropped by more than one-fourth as compared with the 2024 figure, the California Highway Patrol reported Tuesday. Stream San Diego News for free, 24/7, wherever you are with NBC 7. Newsom expanded the program in August 2025 by deploying additional teams to other parts of California, including San Diego County. On average, a vehicle theft occurred in California every four minutes in 2025, according to the Highway Patrol. "The CHP remains committed to holding offenders accountable, recovering stolen vehicles and working with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer," CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said.