Report finds California leads nation in car thefts

It's not just the weather that's hot in California--apparently lots of the cars are, too.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau released its list of the top 10 car-theft areas in the country for 2010. Eight of them are in the Golden State, mostly in rural areas. California locks up the first three positions, in fact, all of which are in the San Joaquin Valley area.

The bureau does report that car thefts continue to drop, as they have for seven straight years. The preliminary stats show a 7.2 percent decrease since 2009. If those are correct, it will be the lowest annual number since 1967.

The top five areas, however, have higher theft rates than a year ago.

The list of the top 10 areas:

1. Fresno, Calif.

2. Modesto, Calif.

3. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.

4. Spokane, Wash.

5. Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.

6. Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/Roseville, Calif.

7. Stockton, Calif.

8. Visalia-Porterville, Calif.

9. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, Calif.

10. Yakima, Wash.

To keep your car out of the hands of thieves, the NICB recommends common sense first. Remove your keys from the ignition, obviously. Lock your doors and windows, and park in a well-lit area.

Adding a second layer of protection could help. Things such as audible alarms, steering-column collars, brake and wheel locks, theft-deterrent decals and VIN etching all decrease your chances of becoming a victim of car theft.

The full "Hot Spots Report" is available at www.nicb.org, where you can click on your own state and check out the high-risk areas.

By Jake Lingeman