County car thefts fall 27%

Bait vehicles, bail increase credited for a 'huge' shift

By CHRIS TOGNERI
BEE STAFF WRITER

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Car thefts dropped 27.6 percent in Stanislaus County last year, raising hopes that the area finally will shed its embarrassing title of Car Theft Capital of America.

For three years in a row, Stanislaus County has recorded the highest per capita auto theft rate in the country, according to statistics compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

But that looks to have changed. Last year, there were 4,838 auto thefts in the county, more than 1,800 fewer than the year before, and the lowest yearly total since 2002, according to statistics released Monday by the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force.

"We're very happy and we're very excited," StanCATT commander Lt. Jeff Morris said. "We're comfortable saying we won't be No. 1. We're hoping we won't even be in the top 10."

The NICB will release its rankings in late March or early April, spokesman Frank Scafidi said. The NICB, an Illinois-based nonprofit agency, compiles theft rates by pitting the number of stolen vehicles in an area against population.

Scafidi said he, too, is confident Modesto's rank will drop.

"Twenty-seven percent — that's huge," Scafidi said. "There just really is no better example" of a community fighting auto theft.

Scafidi and law enforcement officials credited the decrease to a host of factors, including increased bail amounts for first time offenders — from $10,000 to $40,000 — and aggressive prosecution of repeat offenders.

Bait car operations also contributed, officials said.

Bait cars are fitted with global positioning system units — allowing police to track the cars — plus hidden cameras and tape recorders. They typically are left unattended with the doors unlocked, radio blaring and engine running. When a would-be thief steps inside, police can lock the person in remotely and record all the evidence.

Last year, StanCATT staged four extended bait car campaigns and arrested 160 people, Morris said. More than 60 percent of those arrested were repeat offenders, he said.

Officials also credited The Bee, which every Saturday publishes photos of people arrested on suspicion of car theft.

"It raises awareness in the community, and the people who get arrested don't like their pictures in the paper," Modesto Police Chief Roy Wasden said. "I'm good with that. Don't steal a car, you won't get your picture published."

Chief Deputy District Attorney John Goold added: "It seems like nothing works better than a little public humiliation."

The next challenge, officials said, is to sustain the effort and target root causes.

Fighting methamphetamine abuse — which often is linked to property crimes such as identity theft, home burglaries and auto theft — will be crucial, Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said.

"It is the underlying problem," Christianson said. "We need to focus our efforts on narcotics as well."

With Modesto apparently out of the running, who will top the list? According to Scafidi and others: Don't bet against Las Vegas.

Bee staff writer Chris Togneri can be reached at 578-2324 or ctogneri@modbee.com.