Following an eight-year downturn, U.S. auto theft is on therise. According to the latest Hot Spots report, theNational Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) annual per-capitareview of the nation's metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs),vehicle theft swelled 1.3 percent in 2012, when compared to 715,373incidents in 2011.

Based on preliminary 2012 data supplied by the FBI, theNICB found the most dramatic uptick to be concentrated inthe U.S. west (defined by the FBI as Alaska, Arizona,California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming). Further solidifying itsreputation as a hotbed for auto theft, the west sawa 10.6-percent increase in 13 states last year.

Somewhat incredibly, one state claimed eight of ten spotson the NICB's list of MSAs with the most stolen rides in2012. Click on the “Next” button at thebottom right to find out which state carries thisunfortunate distinction, as well as how the rest of the U.S. stacksup.

10. Redding, CA

Helping California retain its dominance in auto theft activity,the city of Redding, Calif. lept from #66 in the 2010 ratings to#10 in 2012. The fourth largest city in the SacramentoValley logged 938 thefts last year. When asked toexplain why the most populous state ischronically plagued by the crime, stateauthorities cited inadequate funding of law enforcementresources due to budget crunches.

Criminals tend to migrate where they will presumably encounterthe least resistance. Theft may be perceived as a less riskyalternative to violent crime, for which the penalties are steep andmore rigidly enforced.

An added vulnerability for California is its drug-relatedproperty crimes, as methamphetamine use continues tosoar.

9. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA

Thieves continue to venture a little farther west, to Spokane,Washington apparently. Though at a slower pace than perhapsofficials and insurers would prefer, the area ismaking progress, as evident by registering #9 (with 3,025thefts) in the most recent NICB roundup.The MSA formerly claimed the #4 spot in both 2011 and2010.

8. Vallejo-Fairfield, CA

Ranking fifth in 2010 and ninth the subsequent year,Vallejo, Calif. settled on the #8 spot in 2012, having reported2,615 thefts.

7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Some of the most alarming findings originated farther south inthe state, in the MSA of San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.After reporting 8,095 thefts in 2010 (ranked #18), the area slid tothe #20 spot in 2011 with 7,460 vehicle thefts. Last year, itlogged a whopping 11,810 thefts to finish seventh.

6. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA

Securing the #6 spot yet again, the San Francisco area observeda slightly higher incidence of auto theft—28,220 in 2012 comparedto 23,223 the year prior. In 2010, the MSA reported 22,617 thefts,registering ninth on the list of hotbeds.

5. Yakima, WA

Attracted to more than the Yakima area's apples, wine,hops and relatively close proximity to Mount Rainier(about 60 miles), criminals lifted about 1,665 vehicles in 2012.The MSA also registed fifth in 2011 with 1,308 thefts, up from the#10 spot in 2010.

4. Stockton-Lodi, CA

After ranking #7 on the 2011 and 2010 iterations with 3,532and 3,779 respectively, Stockton-Lodi, California climbed tofourth place, after reporting 4,940 auto thefts in2012.

3. Bakersfield, CA

The ninth largest city in California enjoys a diverse economy,with abundant natural gas and other resources extracted year afteryear. Unfortunately, the industrial city is consistently targetedby auto thieves. For three years running, it has registeredthird on NICB's list of hotbeds. In 2012, it reported 6,797 stolenvehicles, an increase from 5,240 in 2011.

2. Fresno, CA

Last year, Fresno, Calif. slipped one spot to #2 on the list.The MSA, which formerly reported the most auto theft activity in2011 and 2010 (with 7,261 and 7,559 incidents,respectively), logged 7,563 stolen rides in 2012.

Another western city that has long battled auto theft isAlbuquerque, New Mexico. After ranking high on the NICB's 2011list, the city took decisive action, introducing “bait cars.” Thesecars, provided by NICB partner insurers, are equipped withsurveillance and then placed conspicuously to entice would-becrooks. Last year alone, the Albuquerque policedepartment made 132 arrests as a result of theinitiative and managed to escape the 2012 notorious “top 10″as a result.

1. Modesto, CA

After reporting the second-highest number of auto theftsin 2011 and 2010, Modesto, Calif. steered its way tothe top in 2012 list with 4,260 reportedthefts.

It is important to keep in mind that regions outside of the westare also facing rising auto theft. While pockets of success havebeen documented, there is still much left to be done. Themidwest, northeast and south reported theft reductions of 3.1, 7.9and 2.9 percent, respectively, in 2012.

One crucial tool in deterring crime in those regions hasbeen social media, with members of the community submittinganonymous tips via Facebook and Twitter.