Vehicle theft the nation's top property crime
1990 Toyota Camrys are number three on the most stolen vehicle list. The vehicle thieves target most often in Washington is the 1992 Honda Accord, 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 third, 26th and 35th respectively in auto theft rates for 2008.
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 Darrin Sanger, NW Insurance Council communications director. "The cost to replace stolen vehicles and repair those that are recovered is reflected in your insurance rates."
The good news is vehicle owners who have optional Comprehensive Coverage under their Auto Insurance policies are covered if their vehicles are stolen.
Last year, 31,681 vehicles were reported stolen in Washington, a 25-percent drop from 42,251 in 2007. That's an average of 87 stolen vehicles per day and nearly four vehicles an hour. While the decrease in thefts is encouraging for drivers, auto theft is still up 21 percent since 1995.
Here is a list of Washington's most stolen vehicles, according to NICB 2008 statistics:
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
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-TELNICB.
For more information about auto theft and insurance fraud, visit www. nwinsurance.org.
NW Insurance Council, www.nwinsurance.org/, is a nonprofit, public-education organization funded by member insurance companies serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
