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Q: Why is car theft so prevalent in Stanislaus County?

A: It's not just here — the Central Valley is home to five of the nation's top 10 auto theft hot spots.

Officials say the methamphetamine epidemic is largely to blame. More than 90 percent of all stolen cars are recovered, an indication that cars are stolen by opportunists looking to make a small amount to buy drugs, and not by thieves pushing cars through chop shops, officials say.

The weather also is to blame. Mild winters mean no salt poured on roadways, which in turn means cars last longer. Commonly stolen cars here — such as late '80s to early '90s Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords and Civics — are in the scrap yard in other parts of the country.

Growth also factors in. Even as big-city crime moves in, small-town mentalities linger. So people leave the keys in the ignition, warm up cars unattended in their driveways, or leave cars running while they stop in at a store, police say.

Q: Is my neighborhood safe?

A: Cars are stolen from every neighborhood in the county.

Q: How is law enforcement fighting the problem?

A: In November, the district attorney's office urged Superior Court judges to raise bail amounts for suspected car thieves. Judges quadrupled the recommended bail from $10,000 to $40,000. Judges also began doling out stiffer sentences. Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force investigators have staged two bait car sting operations, arresting a combined 112 auto theft suspects. And agencies throughout the county have begun auto theft awareness campaigns.

Q: What can I do?

A: Park in your garage, or a well-lit area. Buy anti-theft devices. Do not leave cars unlocked or the keys inside. And report suspicious activity.

Q: Will Stanislaus County be No. 1 — again — next year?

A: Probably not. Recent measures are lowering theft rates. But dropping off the top of the list is important only in terms of image and self-esteem. While thefts countywide have dropped by 27.5 percent this year, our theft rate still is three times the national average. Until we drop out of the top 100, or lower, car theft will remain a major concern.

— Bee staff writer Chris Togneri