(June 24, 2015) DES PLAINES, Ill. — California's San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the nation's highest per capita vehicle theft rate in 2014, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) latest Hot Spots report.

NICB's Hot Spots report examines vehicle theft data obtained from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for each of the nation's MSAs. MSAs are designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and often include areas much larger than the cities for which they are named. For example, the Bakersfield, Calif., MSA includes all thefts within the entire county of Kern, not just the city of Bakersfield.

Moreover, as a population-based survey, an area with a much smaller population and a moderate number of thefts can—and often does—have a higher theft rate than an area with a much more significant vehicle theft problem and a larger population to absorb it.

For 2014, the 10 MSAs with the highest vehicle theft rates were: (thefts in parentheses)

Although vehicle thefts are down dramatically around the nation, the reasons they are stolen remain the same. Older vehicles are stolen primarily for their parts value while newer, high-end vehicles often are shipped overseas or, after some disguising, sold to an innocent buyer locally.

Others, meanwhile, are still taken for the oldest of motivations — a "joyride" and when the thrill is gone, it is abandoned undamaged.

NICB recommends that drivers follow our four "layers of protection" to guard against vehicle theft:

• Common Sense — The common sense approach to protection is the easiest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. You should always:

    Remove your keys from the ignition
    Lock your doors /close your windows            
    Park in a well-lit area

• Warning Device — The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular devices include:

    Audible alarms
    Steering column collars
    Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
    Brake locks
    Wheel locks
    Theft deterrent decals
    Identification markers in or on vehicle
    VIN etching
    Micro dot marking

• Immobilizing Device — The third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Some examples are:

    Smart keys
    Fuse cut-offs
    Kill switches
    Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
    Wireless ignition authentication

• Tracking Device — The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics" which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.