Seattle, Yakima, Spokane rank in nation's Top 25 for auto theft; more than 57,800 vehicles stolen across NW

SEATTLE - The Northwest continues to be a hotbed for auto thieves as several cities rank high in the nation, despite an overall decrease in theft rates.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's annual Hot Spots Report, Yakima topped all Northwest cities with the ninth-highest auto theft rate in the nation. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area and Spokane ranked 16th and 25th respectively.

Last year, 57,834 vehicles were reported stolen across all three states, an average of 158 vehicles per day and nearly seven vehicles an hour.

Auto theft is the nation's number-one property crime, costing an estimated $7.5 billion each year.

"Consumers literally pay billions each year for auto theft," said Karl Newman, NW Insurance Council president. "The cost to replace stolen vehicles and repair those that are recovered is reflected in your insurance rates."

Washington ranked highest among the Northwest states with 42,251 stolen vehicles, more than a 5.1-percent drop from 44,563 in 2006.

In Oregon, 13,895 vehicles were stolen last year, a five percent increase from 2006 figures when thieves stole 13,224 vehicles.

Idaho reported 1,606 stolen vehicles in 2007, a 7.5-percent drop from 2006.

Is your car next? NW Insurance Council offers the following tips to help you reduce the risk of your vehicle from being stolen:

• Keep your doors locked and windows completely rolled up.
• Remove keys from the ignition, even when briefly stepping away from your car.
• Keep valuable items such as bags, purses, cell phones and briefcases out of sight.
• Always park your vehicle in well-lit areas.
• Always activate your vehicle's security or alarm system when parked.
• Before buying a new vehicle, check with your insurance company to find out which vehicles have the highest risk of being stolen.

If you witness or have knowledge of an auto theft, contact your local law enforcement agency. In some cases, auto theft is a form of insurance fraud when automobile owners stage phony accidents or arrange to have their vehicles stolen in hopes of collecting the insurance money.

If you know of anyone who has filed a false insurance claim, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in reward money offered by NW Insurance Council. Call the Fraud Hotline at 800-TEL-NICB.

For more information about auto theft and insurance fraud, visit www.nwinsurance.org.

NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, public-education organization funded by member insurance companies serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

###