Las Vegas was reported as having the nation's highest per capita rate of auto theft last year as the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released its latest statistics today.

While “sin city” moved up from second place last year to the number one spot, Modesto, Calif., called a press conference to announce it had dropped from the top of the list last year to number five.

NICB, based in Des Moines, Ill., reported that the western United States still ranks as the area of the country with the highest auto theft rates, and all the nation's top 10 areas are in the West with five in California.

For 2006, the 10 Metropolitan Statistical Areas with the highest vehicle theft rates are:

1. Las Vegas/Paradise, Nev.

2. Stockton, Calif.

3. Visalia/Porterville, Calif.

4. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Ariz.

5. Modesto, Calif.

6. Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, Wash.

7. Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/Roseville, Calif.

8. Fresno, Calif.

9. Yakima, Wash.

10. Tucson, Ariz.

NICB said it based its annual Hot Spots auto theft rates report on data supplied by the National Crime Information Center for each of the nation's 361 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). MSAs are designated by the Office of Management and Budget and may include areas surrounding a specific city.

NICB added that the rate is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the 2005 U.S. Census Population Estimates, the most current figures available.

A positive in the NICB report is the finding that nationally, this is the third straight year of decreases in vehicle theft. The organization said preliminary FBI data during January-June 2006 shows a 2.3 percent decrease in motor vehicle thefts, when compared with the same period in 2005.

NICB President and Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Bryant said, “NICB, through the support of its member companies, has pursued an aggressive 'Bait Vehicle' and License Plate Reader Program around the nation.”

Such tools, he said, are partly responsible “for the absolutely outstanding results achieved in Modesto. When used in conjunction with comprehensive legislation and aggressive prosecution, police on the street can have a tremendous impact on vehicle theft and other crimes.”

Representatives of the Modesto Police Department, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office, the California Highway Patrol and the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force all took part in the Modesto announcement today.

A spokesman for the Modesto police reported the city in 2004 had 2,892 total auto thefts, while in 2005 auto thefts hit 3,014 and last year 2,024. “This is a 32 percent decrease in our auto theft rate,” he said in an e-mail.

He added, “So far this year we have seen a 6 percent decrease. From January to March of 2006, we had 596 auto thefts in our city. From January to March of 2007, we have had 563.”

Among the reported weapons used to fight auto theft in the Modesto area have been increased bail amounts and stiffer jail sentences for thieves, as well as increased use of “bait” cars equipped with video and audio recorders, tracking devices and auto shutoff devices.

Modesto Police Sgt. Craig Gundlach said the city also made citizens aware they could be ticketed for leaving keys in cars. He added that the local newspaper every week had printed names, photos and charges lodged for all auto theft arrests, as well as running antitheft tips.

Asked about their Nevada neighbor in the top spot, Sgt. Gundlach quipped, “We're hoping what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Las Vegas police had no immediate comment.

Complete information on Hot Spots 2006 is available at www.nicb.org.

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