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The Western U.S. led the nation in vehicle thfts per capita while Georgia metro areas ranked no higher than 22nd. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported today that the Modesto, CA, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the highest per capita rate for vehicle thefts in the nation in 2007. Columbus, Georgia led the state as the 22nd Hot Spot in the nation and Atlanta came in at 36th. For 2007, the ten MSAs with the highest vehicle theft rates are:
See Georgia metro area rankings below Each year, NICB analysts review vehicle theft data obtained from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for each of the nation's MSAs. MSAs are designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and often include areas much larger than the cities for which they are named. For example, the Modesto MSA includes the entire county of Stanislaus and other municipalities in addition to the city of Modesto. The rate is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the 2006 U.S. Census Population Estimates, the most current figures available. Preliminary 2007 crime data released by the FBI in January contains some positive news on the vehicle theft front. Not only is 2007 on track to be the fourth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts, but if the preliminary figure of -7.4% holds, it will be the largest single year percent drop in thefts since 1999 and it will contribute to the overall 11% reduction in vehicle thefts, nationally, since 2000. However, the good news is no reason for vehicle owners or law enforcement to relax their vigilance. "While there is overall great news in our new report, there is also room for concern," said NICB President and Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Bryant. "Success against vehicle theft can be fleeting without an ongoing and adaptive program that couples the best in theft prevention/recovery technology with law enforcement operations. We must not become complacent in the wake of success. "Bait cars, license plate readers and owner-applied theft deterrence and recovery systems have delivered outstanding results. In the coming years, technological advances may well defeat vehicle theft as a major crime problem in the United States, but until then we must continue using everything at our disposal to keep achieving the kinds of results that we have had over the last four years," Bryant said. NICB recommends the following actions under its "layered approach" to vehicle theft protection: Common Sense--An unlocked vehicle with a key in the ignition is an open invitation to any thief, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. The common sense approach to protection is the simplest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. Secure your vehicle even if parking for brief periods. You should always:
Tracking Device--The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics" which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer. The National Insurance Crime Bureau is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training and public awareness. Anyone with information concerning auto theft and insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422) or by visiting our web site, www.nicb.org
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