Original research

Where stored RVs get robbed and chewed: theft mentions peak in the West and Plains, rodents in the mid-Atlantic and Northwest

We searched 205,399 Google reviews of RV, boat and vehicle storage facilities for theft, break-ins and vandalism, and for mice, rats and chewing damage. Nationally 1.6% of reviews mention theft and 1.5% mention rodents. Theft mentions run highest in Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska and the West; rodent mentions in Maryland, Oregon and Virginia.

By the RV Storage Rates research desk · Published October 25, 2026

Key findings

  • 1.6% of storage reviews mention theft, break-ins or vandalism, and 1.5% mention mice, rats, squirrels or chewing.
  • Theft mentions are highest in Alaska (3.2%), Kansas (2.8%) and Nebraska (2.7%), with Oregon, Colorado and Nevada at 2.6%. Big western markets are above average too: California 2.3%, Texas 2.2%.
  • Florida is low on theft despite its size: 0.7% of 18,861 reviews, against 2.3% of 18,841 in California. New Jersey and Delaware are at 0.4%.
  • Rodent mentions peak in Maryland (3.0%), Oregon (2.5%) and Virginia (2.4%), and are lowest in Hawaii (0.3%), Alaska (0.4%) and North Dakota (0.6%).
  • In bad reviews, theft is a top-five complaint. 11.0% of one- and two-star storage reviews cite theft or a break-in and 9.6% cite rodents or pests.

Theft and break-in mentions by state

Each state's figure is the share of its storage reviews, of any star rating, that mention theft, a break-in, a burglary, vandalism or a stolen catalytic converter. The map covers the 49 states with at least 300 reviews.

Share of storage reviews mentioning theft or break-insAK 3.2%, KS 2.8%, NE 2.7%, OR 2.6%, CO 2.6%, NV 2.6%, NM 2.5%, IA 2.5%AK: 3.2%AK3.2%ME: 1.4%ME1.4%VT: no dataVTNH: 0.9%NH0.9%WA: 2.5%WA2.5%ID: 1.3%ID1.3%MT: 2%MT2%ND: 1%ND1%MN: 2.1%MN2.1%IL: 1.2%IL1.2%WI: 1%WI1%MI: 1.8%MI1.8%NY: 0.7%NY0.7%RI: 0.9%RI0.9%MA: 0.6%MA0.6%OR: 2.6%OR2.6%NV: 2.6%NV2.6%WY: 1.9%WY1.9%SD: 2.5%SD2.5%IA: 2.5%IA2.5%IN: 1.8%IN1.8%OH: 1.4%OH1.4%PA: 0.8%PA0.8%NJ: 0.4%NJ0.4%CT: 0.8%CT0.8%CA: 2.3%CA2.3%UT: 2%UT2%CO: 2.6%CO2.6%NE: 2.7%NE2.7%MO: 2.4%MO2.4%KY: 1.3%KY1.3%WV: 1.2%WV1.2%VA: 0.7%VA0.7%MD: 0.7%MD0.7%DE: 0.4%DE0.4%AZ: 1.7%AZ1.7%NM: 2.5%NM2.5%KS: 2.8%KS2.8%AR: 1.6%AR1.6%TN: 1.1%TN1.1%NC: 1%NC1%SC: 1.4%SC1.4%DC: no dataDCOK: 2.2%OK2.2%LA: 1.3%LA1.3%MS: 1.4%MS1.4%AL: 1.7%AL1.7%GA: 0.9%GA0.9%HI: 0%HI0%TX: 2.2%TX2.2%FL: 0.7%FL0.7%0%3.2%Dashed outline: no data
National share: 1.6%. Vermont and DC have fewer than 300 reviews and are not shown.

The highest shares form a band through the Plains and the West: Alaska, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa, South Dakota and Washington are all at 2.5% or more. The lowest are in the Northeast and Florida. Florida and California have almost the same number of reviews, about 18,800 each, yet theft comes up three times as often in California's.

Rodent mentions by state

Share of storage reviews mentioning mice, rats or chewingMD 3%, OR 2.5%, VA 2.4%, IA 2.1%, UT 2.1%, RI 2.1%, NY 2%, WI 2%AK: 0.4%AK0.4%ME: 1.9%ME1.9%VT: no dataVTNH: 1.1%NH1.1%WA: 1.6%WA1.6%ID: 2%ID2%MT: 1.2%MT1.2%ND: 0.6%ND0.6%MN: 1.5%MN1.5%IL: 1.2%IL1.2%WI: 2%WI2%MI: 1.6%MI1.6%NY: 2%NY2%RI: 2.1%RI2.1%MA: 1.8%MA1.8%OR: 2.5%OR2.5%NV: 1%NV1%WY: 1%WY1%SD: 1.9%SD1.9%IA: 2.1%IA2.1%IN: 1.5%IN1.5%OH: 1.3%OH1.3%PA: 1.9%PA1.9%NJ: 1.3%NJ1.3%CT: 1.7%CT1.7%CA: 1.3%CA1.3%UT: 2.1%UT2.1%CO: 1.3%CO1.3%NE: 1.5%NE1.5%MO: 1.1%MO1.1%KY: 1.9%KY1.9%WV: 1.2%WV1.2%VA: 2.4%VA2.4%MD: 3%MD3%DE: 1.1%DE1.1%AZ: 0.8%AZ0.8%NM: 1.2%NM1.2%KS: 0.8%KS0.8%AR: 1.9%AR1.9%TN: 1.5%TN1.5%NC: 1.2%NC1.2%SC: 1.1%SC1.1%DC: no dataDCOK: 1.2%OK1.2%LA: 1.2%LA1.2%MS: 1.2%MS1.2%AL: 1.3%AL1.3%GA: 1.5%GA1.5%HI: 0.3%HI0.3%TX: 1.5%TX1.5%FL: 1.2%FL1.2%0.3%3%Dashed outline: no data
National share: 1.5%. States with at least 300 reviews.

Rodent mentions follow a different map. Maryland leads at 3.0% (n = 2,831), followed by Oregon, Virginia, and a group at 2.0% to 2.1% that includes Iowa, Utah, Rhode Island, New York, Wisconsin and Idaho. Dry and cold states sit lowest: Arizona and Kansas at 0.8%, North Dakota at 0.6%. Oregon is the one state near the top of both lists, at 2.6% for theft and 2.5% for rodents. For what actually works against mice in a parked rig, see our evidence-graded guide to keeping mice out of a stored RV.

Theft and rodent mentions by state
Alaska4713.2%0.4%
Kansas1,7552.8%0.8%
Nebraska1,2372.7%1.5%
Oregon3,5022.6%2.5%
Colorado5,6432.6%1.3%
Nevada2,6792.6%1%
New Mexico1,6182.5%1.2%
Iowa1,3332.5%2.1%
South Dakota4732.5%1.9%
Washington6,9332.5%1.6%
Missouri4,6762.4%1.1%
California18,8412.3%1.3%
Texas27,8462.2%1.5%
Oklahoma3,8072.2%1.2%
Minnesota2,6552.1%1.5%
Utah3,2552%2.1%
Montana1,6102%1.2%
Wyoming5931.9%1%
Michigan5,9501.8%1.6%
Indiana3,9981.8%1.5%
Arizona6,3981.7%0.8%
Alabama3,9351.7%1.3%
Arkansas3,0291.6%1.9%
Ohio5,5591.4%1.3%
South Carolina4,8611.4%1.1%
Mississippi1,5341.4%1.2%
Maine7231.4%1.9%
Kentucky1,9981.3%1.9%
Louisiana2,0111.3%1.2%
Idaho2,6661.3%2%
Illinois4,9931.2%1.2%
West Virginia5681.2%1.2%
Tennessee5,5671.1%1.5%
North Carolina8,0971%1.2%
Wisconsin3,1421%2%
North Dakota4841%0.6%
Georgia7,7410.9%1.5%
New Hampshire7930.9%1.1%
Rhode Island4350.9%2.1%
Connecticut1,1020.8%1.7%
Pennsylvania4,4120.8%1.9%
Florida18,8610.7%1.2%
New York4,3290.7%2%
Virginia4,9250.7%2.4%
Maryland2,8310.7%3%
Massachusetts1,7170.6%1.8%
New Jersey2,8130.4%1.3%
Delaware4760.4%1.1%
Hawaii3180%0.3%

Reviews of any star rating, 2009 to Oct 2026. States with fewer than about 1,000 reviews have wide margins of error. Download this table (CSV)

What the bad reviews say

Among the 21,267 one- and two-star storage reviews we coded, 11.0% describe theft or a break-in and 9.6% describe rodents or pests. Theft's share of bad reviews has fallen, from 14.8% in 2020 to 8.3% in 2026, mostly because complaints about rate increases have grown so much faster. Failed gates, cameras or lights come up in 13.0% of bad reviews, often in the same review as a theft. Our storage complaints study has the full breakdown.

11.0%of 1-2 star reviews cite theft or a break-in
9.6%cite rodents or pests
13.0%cite broken gates, cameras or lights

How to protect a stored RV

  • Inspect the security yourself. Check that the gate closes behind each car, that cameras cover the rows and not only the office, and that the lot is lit at night. Ask how long footage is kept.
  • Lock what thieves target. Use a hitch or coupler lock on trailers, a wheel lock or steering lock on motorhomes, and locks on the propane and battery compartments.
  • Remove valuables and paperwork. Take electronics, tools, generators you can lift, and the title out of the rig.
  • Record serial numbers and photos. Photograph the rig, the VIN and serial numbers of the generator and solar gear at move-in. They help with police reports and claims.
  • Check your insurance. Facilities rarely insure your RV. Confirm your policy covers theft and vandalism while the rig is in storage.
  • Visit every few weeks. A quick walk-around catches a forced door, a cut lock or droppings before the damage spreads.
  • Seal entry points against rodents. Close gaps around plumbing and wiring with metal mesh or sealant and set snap traps; see the mice guide for what has evidence behind it.
  • Consider indoor storage in high-risk areas. An enclosed unit adds a locked door between your RV and the lot. Compare indoor RV storage and covered RV storage near you.

The infographic

RV Storage Theft & Rodent Map · 2026Theft talk peaks in the West and Plains.Rodent talk peaks in Maryland.Share of Google reviews of US storage facilities mentioning theft orbreak-ins, by state, 2009 to Oct 2026.1.6%of reviews mention theft1.5%mention rodents3.2%theft share in Alaska, thehighestTheft mentions by stateAK 3.2%, KS 2.8%, NE 2.7%, OR 2.6%, CO 2.6%, NV 2.6%, NM 2.5%, IA 2.5%AK: 3.2%AK3.2%ME: 1.4%ME1.4%VT: no dataVTNH: 0.9%NH0.9%WA: 2.5%WA2.5%ID: 1.3%ID1.3%MT: 2%MT2%ND: 1%ND1%MN: 2.1%MN2.1%IL: 1.2%IL1.2%WI: 1%WI1%MI: 1.8%MI1.8%NY: 0.7%NY0.7%RI: 0.9%RI0.9%MA: 0.6%MA0.6%OR: 2.6%OR2.6%NV: 2.6%NV2.6%WY: 1.9%WY1.9%SD: 2.5%SD2.5%IA: 2.5%IA2.5%IN: 1.8%IN1.8%OH: 1.4%OH1.4%PA: 0.8%PA0.8%NJ: 0.4%NJ0.4%CT: 0.8%CT0.8%CA: 2.3%CA2.3%UT: 2%UT2%CO: 2.6%CO2.6%NE: 2.7%NE2.7%MO: 2.4%MO2.4%KY: 1.3%KY1.3%WV: 1.2%WV1.2%VA: 0.7%VA0.7%MD: 0.7%MD0.7%DE: 0.4%DE0.4%AZ: 1.7%AZ1.7%NM: 2.5%NM2.5%KS: 2.8%KS2.8%AR: 1.6%AR1.6%TN: 1.1%TN1.1%NC: 1%NC1%SC: 1.4%SC1.4%DC: no dataDCOK: 2.2%OK2.2%LA: 1.3%LA1.3%MS: 1.4%MS1.4%AL: 1.7%AL1.7%GA: 0.9%GA0.9%HI: 0%HI0%TX: 2.2%TX2.2%FL: 0.7%FL0.7%0%3.2%Dashed outline: no dataSource: RV Storage Rates analysis of 205,399 Google reviews of US storagefacilities, 2009 to Oct 2026.rvstoragerates.com

How we did this

  • We took every Google review with text for the RV, boat and vehicle storage facilities in our directory: 205,399 reviews dated 2009 to October 2026, collected via DataForSEO in October 2026.
  • Theft: reviews containing stolen, stole, theft, thief, thieves, broke into, broken into, break-in, burglar, vandal(ism) or catalytic converter. Rodents: mice, mouse, rat(s), rodent(s), squirrel(s), pack rat(s), chewed, or nest(ed/ing).
  • Shares count reviews of every star rating, so positive reviews that mention security ("never had a break-in") are included. State figures cover the 49 states with at least 300 reviews; Vermont and DC are excluded.
  • The low-star figures come from our coding of all 21,267 one- and two-star reviews by a language model into 15 categories.
  • These are shares of reviews mentioning a topic, not theft or infestation rates, and we do not name facilities.

Sources

  1. Google reviews of RV storage facilities listed on RV Storage Rates, collected via DataForSEO, accessed October 20, 2026
  2. RV Storage Rates analysis, October 2026

Cite this: RV Storage Rates, "Where stored RVs get robbed and chewed: theft mentions peak in the West and Plains, rodents in the mid-Atlantic and Northwest," October 25, 2026, https://rvstoragerates.com/rv-theft-and-rodents-in-storage/

Spotted an error or have newer data? Tell us and we'll check it and update the page.

Questions people ask

Which states have the most RV theft at storage lots?

Our data measures how often reviews mention theft, not crime rates. By that measure Alaska (3.2% of reviews), Kansas (2.8%) and Nebraska (2.7%) lead, followed by Oregon, Colorado and Nevada at 2.6%. The national share is 1.6%. Florida (0.7%) and New Jersey (0.4%) are among the lowest.

Where are mice in stored RVs most common?

Rodent mentions in storage reviews are highest in Maryland (3.0%), Oregon (2.5%) and Virginia (2.4%), against 1.5% nationally. They are lowest in Hawaii, Alaska and North Dakota. Sealing gaps and setting snap traps are the methods with the strongest evidence.

Does a storage facility's insurance cover theft from my RV?

Usually not. Storage facilities generally do not insure the vehicles they store, and contracts often say so. Check that your own RV policy covers theft and vandalism while the rig is in storage, and keep dated photos and serial numbers.

Is indoor RV storage safer than an outdoor lot?

Indoor storage puts a locked unit between your rig and the rest of the lot, which helps against theft, weather and sun. It does not keep rodents out on its own. Whatever the type, check the gate, cameras and lighting, because their failure shows up in 13.0% of bad storage reviews.

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