Full Notification

The rate of vehicle theft in California has dropped since 2006, a positive trend attributed to enforcement, education, and advancing theft deterrent technologies employed by the automotive industry. In addition to vehicles becoming more difficult to steal, the deployment of bait cars and license plate reader systems by law enforcement, joint task force operations and vehicle theft training have all contributed to this decline.

According to the 2011 vehicle theft statistics compiled by the CHP, the 1994 Honda Accord was the top theft target among auto thieves in California. When it came to trucks, the 1988 Toyota
pickup continued to be a common target and the 2007 Suzuki remained popular among
motorcycle thieves.

Location plays a factor in determining vehicle theft risk. Southern California remains a hotspot for thieves with approximately 52.3 percent of all thefts occurring in the area; Los Angeles County accounted for more than half of that total with 28.2 percent.

Of the vehicles reported stolen last year, 84.9 percent were recovered; however, the economic loss to Californians continues to be approximately $1 billion dollars annually.

The following preventative measures may lessen the likelihood that your vehicle will become a target of auto thieves:

• Never leave a spare key with your vehicle
• Store spare keys in a concealed location within your home
• Close all windows and lock all doors
• Park in a well-lit area
• When possible, park your vehicle in your garage
• Do not leave valuables in your vehicle, especially where they can be seen
• Never leave a running vehicle unattended
• Install theft prevention products and recovery systems in your vehicle
. Install a steering wheel locking device