What State has the Highest Car Thefts?

What are the three most important things when buying a home or setting up a business? Location, location, location. Turns out those are the three most important things to car thieves too.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), which has been tracking stolen vehicle rates by state since 1985, released its annual report identifying the most stolen cars in 2007 earlier this week. Ahead of that report's release, in the spring the group announced which American cities have the highest rates of car theft. Like everyone else, car thieves just love sunny California.

The NICB tracks metropolitan statistical areas for vehicle theft rates, determining them by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 habitants using the 2007 U.S. Census population estimates. Four of the top 10 cities for auto theft in 2007 are in California--and all four are in the top five, in fact.

Modesto, Calif., ranks at No. 1, with San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos in the third spot, Stockton in fourth and San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont in fifth place. The city in second place, the only one in the top five not in California, is Las Vegas/Paradise.

"One huge factor is that there are more vehicles in California than any other state, making it a target-rich environment to begin with," says Frank Scafidi, NICB spokesman. "The proximity to international borders and seaports is also a factor. Both are widely used in the illegal exportation of stolen vehicles."

But the main attractions are the car theft hot spots conveniently located near the Mexican border. A quick trip across and crooks can quickly unload stolen cars--or their parts--without hassle or question. That's why Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are "all high-theft states" as well, Scafidi notes.

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