While automobile theft has declined in some areas, it remains one of the fastest growing crimes in America. Here are some statistic, courtesy of Auto-Theft.info, the online auto-theft information clearing house:
* Every 26 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States.
* U.S. motor vehicle thefts fell 1.9 percent in 2004 from 2003, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports. In 2004, 1,237,114 motor vehicles were reported stolen.
* The West was the only region with an increase in motor vehicle thefts from 2003 to 2004, up 3.2 percent. Thefts fell 9.7 percent in the Northeast, 4.4 percent in the Midwest and 2.9 percent in the South.
* Nationwide, the 2004 motor vehicle theft rate per 100,000 people was 421.3, down 2.9 percent from 433.7 in 2003.
* Only 13.0 percent of thefts were cleared by arrests in 2004.
* Carjackings occur most frequently in urban areas. They account for only 3.0 percent of all motor vehicle thefts.
* The average comprehensive insurance premium in the U.S. rose 11.2 percent from 1999 to 2003, the most recent data available.
