Cars are still hot in Detroit, Mich., but not like they used tobe.

According to the annual report of the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA), Detroit onceagain saw an overall decrease in vehicle thefts from 2009 to 2010.The 5.2-percent decrease continues the trend of waning incidents inthe state, despite the fact that Detroit is still the highestranking city in Michigan for auto thefts.

Auto theft incidents have decreased across the state the pastfour years running. Michigan is now ranked as the sixth state withhighest motor vehicle thefts in the nation. From ATPA's inceptionin 1986 to 2010, Michigan auto thefts have dropped by 6.7 percent,compared to a decrease in auto thefts nationally of only 39.8percent.

Michigan's other large cities with the highest decreases in autotheft from 2009 to 2010 include Harper Woods, with a50-percent decrease; Sterling Heights, with a 36.8-percentdecrease; and Kalamazoo, with a 32.1-percent decrease. Meanwhile,some pockets in the state saw an uptick in auto theft during thatsame time. For instance, Lansing reported a 20.6-percent increase,while Kenton Co. saw a 15.9-percent increase.

Wayne County topped the list of Mich. counties with 61.2 percentof total state thefts in 2010. October, November, and December were once again the months with the highest auto theft figures. Topping Michigan's most stolen vehicle listis the 2000 Dodge Ram pickup truck. Popular colors among thieves once againinclude black, white, and red.

Although auto thefts are declining, related crimes, such ascomponent theft and insurance fraud, are on the rise, according to Help EliminateAuto Thefts (H.E.A.T.).

“With continued partnership between citizens, law enforcement,the insurance industry, and agencies such as H.E.A.T. and the ATPA,we expect to see rates of auto theft continue to decline,” saysTerri Miller, director of H.E.A.T.

Source: H.E.A.T.