Top 10 Places in the US for Auto Theft in 2012 Revealed

The 2012 Hot Spots vehicle theft report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) shows that an eight-year downward trend in auto theft appears to be at an end. For 2012, eight of the top ten areas are in California, with the remaining two in Washington state. At a regional level, unlike the rest of the country, the West region saw a 10% increase in auto thefts from 2011.

Here is the list of the top 10 MSAs with the highest rates of vehicle theft:

  1. Modesto, CA
  2. Fresno, CA
  3. Bakersfield-Delano, CA
  4. Stockton, CA
  5. Yakima, WA
  6. San Francisco/Oakland/Hayward, CA
  7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
  8. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
  9. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
  10. Redding, CA

To help protect your car from being stolen, the NICB recommends that drivers follow a four layers of protection approach (PDF):

  1. Use common sense
  2. Install a warning device
  3. Employ an immobilizing device
  4. Fit a tracking device

If you would like to protect your vehicle, we offer a range of vehicle security systems that meets different security needs and budgets.