Seattle, Yakima, Eugene rank in nation's Top 25 for auto theft; more than 44,010 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 24 percent decrease in theft rates last year.

Idaho saw the largest dip as car thefts dropped more than 37 percent from 2007.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's annual Hot Spots Report, Yakima topped all Northwest cities with the third-highest auto theft rate in the nation. Eugene ranked and the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area ranked 20th and 25th respectively.

Last year, 44,010 vehicles were reported stolen across all three states, an average of 126 vehicles per day and nearly five vehicles an hour.

Auto theft is the nation's number-one property crime, costing an estimated $7.4 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 31,681 stolen vehicles, a 25 -percent drop from 42,251 in 2007.

In Oregon, 11,325 vehicles were stolen last year, an 18.5-percent drop from 2007 figures when thieves stole 13,895 vehicles.

Idaho reported 1,004 stolen vehicles in 2008, a 37.5-percent drop from 2007.

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.

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