Vehicle Theft
Hot Spots 2008
Previous-
AP/AOL
Top 20 Car Theft Cities
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), preliminary crime data released by the FBI 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.
But that may be small comfort to the cities on this list. Click through our gallery as we count down the top 20 areas for vehicle theft in America.
First Slide: Hot Spot No. 20 -
AP/AOL
Riverside-San Bernardino-
Ontario, Calif.2007 Rank: 20
2006 Rank: 15
# Thefts in 2007: 27,188
Rate of Thefts: 666.15
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 19 -
Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.
2007 Rank: 19
2006 Rank: 21
# Thefts in 2007: 2,738
Rate of Thefts: 670.09
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 18 -
AP/AOL
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Mich.
2007 Rank: 18
2006 Rank: 16
# Thefts in 2007: 31,163
Rate of Thefts: 697.53
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 17 -
El Centro, Calif.
2007 Rank: 17
2006 Rank: 18
# Thefts in 2007: 1,166
Rate of Thefts: 720.34
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 16 -
AP/AOL
Seattle-Tacoma-
Bellevue, Wash.2007 Rank: 16
2006 Rank: 6
# Thefts in 2007: 24,516
Rate of Thefts: 740.81
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 15 -
AP/AOL
Bakersfield, Calif.
2007 Rank: 15
2006 Rank: 14
# Thefts in 2007: 6,013
Rate of Thefts: 760.46
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 14 -
AP/AOL
Salinas, Calif.
2007 Rank: 14
2006 Rank: 49
# Thefts in 2007: 3,115
Rate of Thefts: 764.16
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 13 -
AP/AOL
Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-
Roseville, Calif.2007 Rank: 13
2006 Rank: 7
# Thefts in 2007: 16,413
Rate of Thefts: 784.89
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 12 -
AP/AOL
Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
2007 Rank: 12
2006 Rank: 3
# Thefts in 2007: 3,312
Rate of Thefts: 785.67
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 11 -
AP/AOL
Fresno, Calif.
2007 Rank: 11
2006 Rank: 8
# Thefts in 2007: 7,207
Rate of Thefts: 801.36
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 10 -
AP/AOL
Tucson, Ariz.
2007 Rank: 10
2006 Rank: 10
# Thefts in 2007: 7,781
Rate of Thefts: 804.58
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 9 -
AP/AOL
Yakima, Wash.
2007 Rank: 9
2006 Rank: 9
# Thefts in 2007: 1,898
Rate of Thefts: 814.38
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 8 -
AP/AOL
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.
2007 Rank: 8
2006 Rank: 4
# Thefts in 2007: 34,182
Rate of Thefts: 817.86
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 7 -
AP/AOL
Albuquerque, N.M.
2007 Rank: 7
2006 Rank: 13
# Thefts in 2007: 6,845
Rate of Thefts: 819.64
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 6 -
AP/AOL
Laredo, Texas
2007 Rank: 6
2006 Rank: 22
# Thefts in 2007: 1,914
Rate of Thefts: 820.92
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 5 -
AP/AOL
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.
2007 Rank: 5
2006 Rank: 12
# Thefts in 2007: 34,996
Rate of Thefts: 832.47
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 4 -
Stockton, Calif.
2007 Rank: 4
2006 Rank: 2
# Thefts in 2007: 5,649
Rate of Thefts: 841.89
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 3 -
AP/AOL
San Diego-Carlsbad-
San Marcos, Calif.2007 Rank: 3
2006 Rank: 11
# Thefts in 2007: 28,074
Rate of Thefts: 943.71
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 2 -
AP/AOL
Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.
2007 Rank: 2
2006 Rank: 1
# Thefts in 2007: 19,031
Rate of Thefts: 1,036.36
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
Next: Hot Spot No. 1 -
AP/AOL
Modesto, Calif.
2007 Rank: 1
2006 Rank: 5
# Thefts in 2007: 5,358
Rate of Thefts: 1,047.99
Notes: A vehicle theft rank of 1 is the worst. The rate of thefts is determined by the number of vehicle theft offenses per 100,000 inhabitants using the most current U.S. Census Population Estimates available. A higher rate means more thefts per capita.
· See All Hot Spots by State
On AOL: More Danger Zones -
More on AOL:
Most Dangerous States
The results of CQ Press's annual Crime State Rankings are in. Join us as we reveal which 15 states were ranked as the most dangerous for 2008.
States are compared against the national average for six crimes, each carrying equal weight.
Click through our gallery and see if your state made the list.
15 Most Dangerous StatesMore in Money & Finance:
Our Most Popular Features
Recent Comments
Papachuck63 11:37:49 AM Apr 14 2009
hckngrtfakt, Thank you Spell Check Cop but why don't you tell that to AOL.
hckngrtfakt 11:10:13 AM Apr 14 2009
Is spelled "Phoenix" with an "X" at the end, not a "Z"and is "Tucson" not "Tuscon" .... Spellcheck PEOPLE !!!! use it .........
Tteacherpet 08:42:13 AM Apr 14 2009
Hope they catch that car stealing white dude .He will be the one of the only white peep in there.
Berloi 08:18:36 AM Apr 14 2009
Remember the power of the dollar at the back door at the White House. By that I mean lobbiest working for big insurance companies like AIG (American insurance group) you know the company that taxpayers just gave billions to in order to survive .There needs to be lots of car thefts to keep auto insurance high and lawyers will raise the roof so to speak if stealing a car is impossible. We can fix a salilite from earth and fly a unmaned drone over the middle east but can't stop a car thief..............wake up America ,you just been fk by your leaders..
Winchester9432 07:57:24 AM Apr 14 2009
good post jpwhere are all the wanabe snipers when all these idots are comminting crimes,seems a little one shot one kill would clean up most of the crime stats.if your house is a mess you don't move you clean your house.
JPML 002 07:38:33 AM Apr 14 2009
So the White House/Media conglomeration depicts all the auto thieves as white guys. Interesting. There ought to be a class action lawsuit against AOL for promoting racism, no matter what their "greater" intention is.
ONEDARTONEDER 02:12:27 PM Apr 13 2009
Clean up your act California. What's the deal with the Southwest? Nobody lock their doors? Or just more criminals?
robojerk 02:03:13 PM Apr 13 2009
MOST OF THE CARS STOLEN IN THE WESTERN STATES END UP IN ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD,...MEXICO...BUT YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT.... I HAVE SEEN SUVS WITH THE CALIFORNIA,AND ARIZONA PLATES STILL ON THEM, PARKED OUTSIDE MEXICAN POLICE STATIONS. THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN BY THE MEXICAN COPS.
AEChrisM89 02:00:53 PM Apr 13 2009
Well obviously this is biased because of population of course Texas and California would be in there especially California.
Sorry Officer, but ...
No one likes to get a traffic ticket. But some of us are a little more adventurous in trying to talk our way out of one. What have you tried?
Insurance Basics
Sorry Officer, but ...
No one likes to get a traffic ticket. But some of us are a little more adventurous in trying to talk our way out of one. What have you tried?