New study finds Baltimore as No. 2 for phone, handheld thefts in the U.S.

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A new study found Baltimore ranks second in the country for phone and handheld thefts, according to the IT Asset Management Group (IT-AMG).

Researchers found Baltimore had 471.2 thefts per 100,000 residents, placing it just behind Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which led the country with 480.1 thefts per 100,000 residents.

According to the study, Baltimore had the highest total number of phone and handheld thefts overall among the top ten cities, with 2,652 incidents reported in a population of 562,811.

Baltimore’s rate is 243.9 percent above the U.S. average, researchers reported.

The top 10 cities with the highest rates of phone and handheld thefts are:

1. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: 480.1 thefts per 100,000 residents (918 thefts)
2. Baltimore, Maryland: 471.2 thefts per 100,000 residents (2,652 thefts)
3. Atlanta, Georgia: 447.4 thefts per 100,000 residents (2,353 thefts)
4. Wichita, Kansas: 414.7 thefts per 100,000 residents (1,666 thefts)
5. Little Rock, Arkansas: 389.6 thefts per 100,000 residents (800 thefts)
6. Durham, North Carolina: 341.2 thefts per 100,000 residents (1,048 thefts)
7. Spokane, Washington: 340.3 thefts per 100,000 residents (786 thefts)
8. Nashville, Tennessee: 332.9 thefts per 100,000 residents (2,392 thefts)
9. St. Louis, Missouri: 329.7 thefts per 100,000 residents (906 thefts)
10. Cincinnati, Ohio: 326.0 thefts per 100,000 residents (1,031 thefts)

The study included robbery, burglary, larceny (including pickpocketing or shoplifting), and car thefts where phones or other handheld devices, such as tablets and e-readers, were reported stolen.

The researchers reviewed FBI crime data for 2025, focusing on cities with at least 100,000 residents and ranking only cities with a full year of police-reported data, at least 50 thefts, and consistent theft reporting.