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Report: Vehicle Thefts Decline for 6th Straight Year

Sept. 15, 2010 – Despite generally poor economic conditions, vehicle theft rates across the United States generally declined for the sixth consecutive year in 2009, but drivers living in the West need to be extra cautious.

A May 17 report issued by the National Insurance Crime Bureau indicates 304 of 366 metropolitan areas – including suburbs and neighboring communities – reported fewer auto thefts last year than in 2008. About 83 percent of metropolitan areas in 2009 experienced auto theft declines of as much as 18 percent when compared to 2008.

While no specific reason for the decline in automotive thefts was cited, the president of the National Insurance Crime Bureau attributed a group effort to the years-long decline.

“This is great news on the vehicle-theft front,” said Joe Wehrle, president and chief executive officer of the National Insurance crime Bureau. “Six straight years of vehicle-theft reductions are the result of a lot of hard work on the part of law enforcement, prosecutors, legislators, [National Insurance Crime Bureau] member companies and personnel and insurance industry trade groups who have contributed expertise and energy to have an impact on this crime.”

Although a decline in automotive thefts has been reported over the years, many metropolitan areas continue to report significant amounts of automotive theft. And if you live in the western United States, studies indicate you might be more at-risk of having your vehicle stolen.

Six of the top 10 municipal areas for automotive theft are located in California with Modesto ranking second behind Laredo, Texas, in the number of reported automotive thefts. The two municipalities swapped positions this year after Laredo ranked second to Modesto in 2008. Golden State municipalities Bakersfield, Stockton and Fresno ranked third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in automotive thefts in 2009 and were ranked among the top 10 in 2008.

Yakima, Washington, occupies the sixth spot in 2009 after falling from the third position in 2008. The San Francisco Bay area, including the cities of Oakland, San Francisco and Fremont, ranked seventh in 2009 – up from the ninth spot a year earlier. Rounding out the top 10 municipalities for automotive theft are the Visalia and Porterville area of California in the seventh position, followed by Las Vegas, Nevada, in the ninth spot and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the tenth position.

The non-profit National Insurance Crime Bureau is headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois, and is focused on “preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft” through a variety of means, including political advocacy. The bureau is comprised of more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance providers representing about 93 percent of the U.S. auto insurance market in 2009.