Fort Lauderdale has the highest rate of cellphone thefts in the country, according to new FBI data reported by WSVN.
The city recorded about 480 thefts per 100,000 residents in 2025. That is more than three and a half times the national average of 137.
Baltimore, Atlanta, Wichita and Little Rock also appeared in the top five for phone thefts. The report did not list the top five rates in full detail beyond those cities.
For Fort Lauderdale residents, the figures put a spotlight on phone theft in a city with heavy foot traffic and a busy nightlife scene. Anyone carrying a phone in public may want to keep an eye on it and enable tracking and lock features.
