The 1992 Honda Accord was the car most targeted by auto thieves in Washington state last year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau says.
But it appears to matter little on the North Olympic Peninsula, where auto thefts are relatively few and the total number of heisted vehicles was down last year.
The Northwest Insurance Council has released the bureau’s annual “Hot Wheels Report” which lists the 1995 Honda Civic and 1990 Toyota Camry as the second and third most targeted models, respectively.
Ron Cameron, chief criminal deputy in the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, did not have statistics for make and model of cars reported stolen, but said that car thefts were down in Clallam County last year.
“What was reported in 2007 and 2008 showed a 20.4 percent decrease in our motor vehicle theft reports,” Cameron said.
“This year, I haven’t noticed a heck of a lot. Certainly, I haven’t noticed any patterns.”
Jefferson County
Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez said four cars have been stolen in his jurisdiction so far this year.
He said thefts were down from last year, although he did not have specific figures.
“We really do not have a preferred make or model in Jefferson County per se,” Hernandez said.
Washington is a hotbed for car thieves, the Northwest Insurance Council said in the report released last month.
Yakima, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area and Spokane ranked third, 26th and 35th, respectively, in auto theft rates last year.
“Consumers literally pay billions each year for auto theft,” said Darrin Sanger, Northwest Insurance Council spokesman.
“The cost to replace stolen vehicles and repair those that are recovered is reflected in your insurance rates.”
Vehicle theft is the nation’s number-one property crime, costing an estimated $7.4 billion each year, the council said.
Last year, 31,681 vehicles were reported stolen in Washington, a 25-percent drop from 42,251 in 2007. But in the bigger picture, auto theft is up 21 percent since 1995.
Here are some common sense tips from the Northwest Insurance Council for protecting cars, trucks and SUVs from thieves.
•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.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com