No that the auto has replaced the horse, a similar strategy would probably diminish the number of auto thefts. 
Posted on 04/25/2007 9:25:02 AM PDT by Disambiguator
Las Vegas has the highest rate of auto theft per capita of any metropolitan area in the country, according to data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Western states still lead the nation in auto theft rates, according to the NICB. All of the top ten metro areas by per capita auto theft rates are in western states. Half of the top ten metro areas are in California. (See the Top 10 list below.)
Modesto, Calif., which had topped the ranking for the past three years, saw the number of car thefts there plummet by almost 30 percent last year compared to 2005. Modesto ranked fifth last year in auto thefts per 100,000 population, according to the NICB.
Auto thefts in Las Vegas, which had previously ranked second to Modesto, declined only slightly.
Based on preliminary FBI data, auto thefts in the early part of 2006 were trending downward nationally for the third year in a row, according to the NICB.
The NICB metro area rankings are based on full-year figures from the National Crime Information Center for 2006. The NICB data ranks all 361 metropolitan areas in the United States.
'Green' concept cars of 2007
The drop in auto thefts in the Modesto area was achieved through various programs including the use of "bait cars," vehicles that are deliberately left vulnerable by police in order to catch car thieves in action.
In Modesto, bait cars are equipped with video and audio recorders and satellite tracking devices, said Lt. Jeff Morris of the California Highway Patrol. Morris is in charge of the Modesto area's auto theft task force. Police cars set up to follow the bait cars have remote control equipment allowing them to lock the doors and shut off the engines of the bait cars, said Morris.
"These cutting-edge enforcement tools offer law enforcement the latest in high-tech crime fighting, and are partly responsible for the absolutely outstanding results achieved in Modesto," said NICB President Robert Bryant in an announcement.
Meanwhile, Modesto prosecutors increased bail requests for first-time auto theft defendants and went after repeat offenders more aggressively, said NICB spokesman Frank Scafidi.
The local Modesto newspaper also published photos of those arrested for auto theft as a weekly feature, said Morris.
Las Vegas is now employing some of same tactics and has seen the number of auto thefts there decline 22 percent so far this year compared to last year, said Lt. Robert Duvall of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Duvall is in charge of the auto theft test force there.
Because it's so recent, that decline would not be reflected in these rankings, Duvall added. Also, the population figures used by the NICB do not reflect the Las Vegas area's large tourist population, he said.
The NICB recommends car owners take basic steps to avoid having their cars stolen. Those steps include never leaving keys in the car, locking the car and using a visible anti-theft device such as a steering wheel lock. Vehicles can also be equipped with devices that prevent thieves from starting the vehicle without a key and devices that allow for remote tracking of the vehicle if it is stolen.
Top ten metro areas by per capita auto theft rate
Las Vegas/Paradise, Nev.
Stockton, Calif
Visalia/Porterville, Calif.
Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Ariz.
Modesto, Calif.
Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, Wash.
Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/Roseville, Calif.
Fresno, Calif.
Yakima, Wash.
Tucson, Ariz.
Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau
Newark, New Jersey used to be one of the leaders for a while.
I guess when addicted gamblers bust out, they get desperate, or some kind of Car-Mafia has taken hold in Vegas.
If your car is the only thing you lose in Vegas, in my opinion, you are probably still lucky (assuming you had full coverage)
No that the auto has replaced the horse, a similar strategy would probably diminish the number of auto thefts.
You must mean some of these car thieves are unlicensed, uninsured freedom fighters from South of the Border. Doing their best to alleviate the global warming Amerikanos’ tools of destruction.
It's been getting better but Russians are probably up to about 30-40% responsible for car thefts and most of the rest are joy rides or felony crime transports
I live here. I am pretty cynical about this one. My educated guess is that the reason why we have such a high rate of auto theft is because the police here take reports for crimes but insist they are too busy to investigate them. They expect that the insurance companies will compensate for thefts and any auto accidents. Case closed. In many cases, they will not come when you call them, but tell you to come down to a station and fill out a report that is filed away somewhere. And that is the end of that! No further action is taken. Yes, we have a special unit to deal with the problem of car theft, but as the article stated, it is only now (in the first few months of this year) employing some effective tactics to combat the problem.
Wow, kind of interesting the ratio of English speakers verses non English speakers in those areas. Maybe that has something to do with it? </s>
No matter how lucky I get in Vegas, there is NO ONE that would steal my 2003 Mercury Sable!
Auto Theft Facts
http://www.crimedoctor.com/autotheft1.htm
Auto theft is an estimated $7.5 billion business and continues to grow despite a declining theft rate across the USA, according to the FBI. The auto theft rate dropped about 8.4% in 1998, but the value of those cars stolen increased by 11% or $200 million dollars
There are some large organized groups of car thieves that seemingly fill orders for a contract buyer. Some cars are stolen for shipment out of the country, especially to Mexico
That’s a big part of it, to be sure.
I used to live in NM, and many stolen vehicles there are never recovered, because they aren’t in NM any more. I’ve heard it’s so bad in El Paso, that if you leave your car running in your driveway and go back in the house for 30 seonds, it’s possible for your car to be gone when you return.
The Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley has 4 of the top 10!
wow. Lots of illegals in those cities too.
Nevada also rated #1 for the most dangerous state in regards to the six crime categories—murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
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