Contact:
Karl Newman, President
Darrin Sanger, Communications Director     
NW Insurance Council    
Phone: (206) 624-3330/ (800) 664-4942
Fax: (206) 624-1975
karl.newman@nwinsurance.org
darrin.sanger@nwinsurance.org

Northwest Theft Statistics

Hot Wheels: '92 Honda Accord, '99 Dodge Ram Pickup top Northwest's most stolen lists

SEATTLE - The vehicles thieves target most often in the Northwest are the 1992 Honda Accord and the 1999 Dodge Ram Pickup, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's annual Hot Wheels Report for 2008.

Washington is a hotbed for car thieves, traditionally ranking high in auto theft over the years. In fact, Yakima, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area and Spokane ranked 3rd, 26th and 35th respectively in auto theft rates for 2008.

In Oregon, 13,325 vehicles were stolen last year. Based on theft rates, Eugene ranked 20th in the nation for auto theft while the Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton area ranked 81st - the only Oregon cities in the nation's Top 100.

Last year, More than 1,000 vehicles were stolen in Idaho. According to theft rates, Coeur d'Alene ranked 278th in the country, the highest of any Idaho city. Boise came in at 319th, second-highest in the state.

Vehicle 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."

Vehicle owners who have Comprehensive Coverage under their Auto Insurance policies are covered if their vehicles are stolen.

Here is a list of most stolen vehicles in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, according to NICB 2008 statistics:

Washington

1. 1992 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1990 Toyota Camry
4. 1995 Acura Integra
5. 1994 Nissan Sentra
6. 1995 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
7. 1994 Saturn Sl
8. 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
9. 1994 Ford Explorer
10. 1993 Dodge Caravan

Oregon

1. 1992 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1990 Toyota Camry
4. 1990 Acura Integra
5. 1996 Subaru Legacy
6. 1993 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
7. 1995 Saturn
8. 1999 Ford F150 Pickup
9. 1991 Ford Explorer
10. 1986 Toyota Pickup 4x2

Idaho

1. 1999 Dodge Ram Pickup
2. 1994 Chevrolet Extended Cab 4x4 Pickup
3. 1994 Honda Civic
4. 2007 Ford F150 Pickup
5. 1991Honda Accord
6. 1996 Ford Explorer
7. 1993 Pontiac Grand Am
8. 1991 Chevrolet Conventional Cab 4x4 Pickup
9. 1988 Ford Ranger
10. 1995 Ford Mustang

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 an award up to $5,000, 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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