Las Vegas falls to No. 7 on auto theft list

By Mary Manning

Published Monday, April 13, 2009 | 1:03 p.m.

Updated Monday, April 13, 2009 | 4:37 p.m.

Metro Police announced today that auto thefts in Southern Nevada dropped in 2008.

Las Vegas has moved from No. 1 in auto thefts in 2006 to No. 7 in 2008, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, which ranks cities based on auto thefts per 100,000 residents.

Las Vegas has experienced a steady decline in auto thefts for the past three years: 1,265.9 theft per 100,000 residents in 2006; 1,041.28 in 2007; and 732.25 in 2008.

With arrests such as that of 42-year-old Eric Isbel on Friday, police believe that local auto thefts will continue to drop. Isbel is in Clark County Detention Center facing nine charges including auto theft, grand larceny and auto burglary as well as a parole violation.

Auto thefts are down an additional 20 percent so far this year compared to the same point last year, said Metro Lt. Robert Duvall.

The good news is that the rates are dropping but the bad news is auto theft is an ongoing problem, Duvall said.

“We’ll never be at the point where the work can stop,” he said. “Remember, we’re still No. 7 in the nation.”

In 2008 the top five cities with the worst auto theft rates were Modesto, Calif., Laredo, Texas, Yakima, Wash., San Diego and Bakersfield, both in California.

The city with the fewest auto thefts per 100,000 was Elmira, N.Y.

In 2007 Southern Nevada was ranked second in the nation for auto thefts, according to a National Insurance Crime Bureau report.

Metro Police work with VIPER, a multi-agency task force which seeks to reduce auto thefts in the area. It includes Metro Police, National Insurance Crime Bureau, North Las Vegas Police, Henderson Police and Nevada Highway Patrol members.

VIPER focuses on such issues as chop shops, VIN switching, organized theft rings, rogue or illegal towing, owners illegally reporting cars stolen and repeat auto theft suspects. Metro Police officers have increased use of bait cars, creating a fleet that includes motorcycles and trailers.

Sun reporter Jeff Pope contributed to this story.