California accounted for eight of the 10 cities/metropolitan areas with the highest per-capita rates of vehicle theft last year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Based on data from the FBI, the NICB found vehicle theft grew most rapidly in the West compared with other regions, increasing 10.6% from 2011 to 2012. The 10 cities/metro areas with the largest per-capita rates were:
1. Modesto -- ranked second in the NICB’s studies in 2011 and 2010 but rose to the top last year with 4,260 reported thefts.
2. Fresno -- ranked No. 1 the previous two years with 7,261 and 7,559 incidents in 2011 and 2010, respectively; the city 7,563 thefts reported in 2012.
3. Bakersfield -- ranked third for the third straight year; thefts increased from 5,240 in 2011 to 6,797 last year.
4. Stockton-Lodi -- was seventh in 2011 and 2010, but had an increase last year of more than 40%, from 3,532 in 2011 to 4,940 in 2012.
5. Yakima, Wash.
6. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward -- sixth for the second straight year after ranking ninth in 2010; thefts rose from 23,223 in 2011 to 28,220 last year.
7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara -- ranked 18th in 2010 and 20th in 2011 but thefts spiked from 7,460 in 2011 to 11,810 last year.
8. Vallejo-Fairfield -- was fifth in 2010 and ninth in 2011; had 2,615 thefts last year.
9. Spokane-Spokane Valley
10. Redding -- ranked 66th in 2010; had 938 thefts in 2012.
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