The area which had the largest number of actual vehicles stolen was Los Angeles-Long Beach where 71,079 machines were reported taken. Los Angeles-Long Beach ranked 19^th on a rate basis.

Chicago, in fifty-eighth place recorded 43,600 thefts, Phoenix had 40,247; Detroit 36,647; Washington, D.C.-and suburbs 33,147 and New York 30,576.

To develop its theft rate list the NICB said it analyzed the FBI's 2002 vehicle theft data for metropolitan statistical areas, which are designated by the U.S. Census Bureau and include cities and surrounding communities. Nineteen of those on the NICB's top 25 list are west of the Mississippi.

NICB said vehicle theft has surged in California rising form 182,000 in 2000 to 210,000 in 2001 and over 227,000 last year.

In several cities, NICB said there were noteworthy declines in the auto theft rate. The NICP reported Miami had improved from second on the list in 2001 to sixth in 2002. Detroit moved down from fourth in 2001 to eleventh in 2002. Tucson, Ariz. went from sixth place to thirteenth and Jersey City, N.J. went from tenth in 2001 to twenty-third in 2002.

NICB mentioned that FBI figures show auto theft increased 4.2 percent in the first six months of 2002 compared with the same period in 2001. At the same time, the stolen vehicle recovery rate has declined to 62 percent in 2001. In the 1990's the recovery rate was at 80 percent.

Approximately 200,000 stolen vehicles are illegally exported each year, according to NICB's estimate.

Robert M. Bryant, NICB president and chief executive officers said people who live near ports or international borders need to pay special attention to protect against vehicle theft.

Mr. Bryant said the drop in recoveries indicates "growth in well-organized professional theft rings who direct stolen vehicles to ?chop shops,' which dismantle them for parts or transport them out of the country."

The positive news, he said, is that increased use of Gamma Ray machines to X-ray shipping containers driven into port facilities is helping to locate stolen vehicles.

NICB's full report is on its Web site at www.nicb.org.