EUGENE -- Eugene is the car theft capital of Oregon.

Car thefts declined nationwide but increased in Oregon, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau's Hot Spots report. On average, 38 cars are stolen in Oregon each day.

"At $4 per gallon gas, what people are stealing is a four-wheel gas can," said Terry Smith, an analyst for the Eugene Police Department.

Eugene posted the highest rate of theft per 100,000 residents for any Oregon city. Eugene ranked 40th nationwide for car theft per capita, according to the report.

The difference between Oregon and other states, according to Smith: fewer police officers per capita and less vigilance by citizens.

"Auto thefts are an excellent measure of the guardian function" of police officers and citizens, Smith said. "What the high auto theft rate in Lane County says is we don't have any guardians."

Smtih said Oregon is one of the least policed states per capita in the U.S. Of Oregon's 36 counties, Lane County usually ranks 34th or 35th in the number of law enforcement officers per capita.

Car theft rates remained relatively constant in Eugene in the 1980s and 1990s at about 350 to 400 per 100,000 people.

Smith said the rate spiked in 2005 to 1,150 per 100,000. The rate declined to 800 in 2006 and 662 in 2007.

Smith said Eugene police have a good rate of recovery for stolen vehicles, although he could not cite statistics. Often, officers will find a stolen vehicle abandoned with the gas tank siphoned empty.

Despite the increase in reported auto thefts, arrests have not increased. For every 100 cars reported stolen, police make less than 10 arrests, according to crime statistics.

"The number of people arrested in Eugene for auto theft has remained relatively constant for 15 years," Smith said. "That represents our capacity to catch, detect and investigate with the resources we have."

Citizens need to help protect their property.

"This is something they can do something about really easily," Smith said.

That starts by locking your car and remaining vigilant of what goes on in your neighbor. Smith said steering wheel locks help deter thefts.

"You just have to secure your stuff. Period," Smith said.

Other findings from the report

Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton area ranked 54th and Salem ranked 97th, the only Oregon cities making the Top 100.

Last year, 13,895 vehicles were stolen in the state, up 5.1 percent from 2006. That's an average of 38 stolen vehicles per day and more than one vehicle per hour.

Vehicle theft is the nation's top property crime, costing an estimated $7.5 billion each year.

"Consumers literally pay billions each year for auto theft," said Casey Klaviter, NW Insurance Council regional director. "The cost to replace stolen vehicles and repair those that are recovered is reflected in your insurance rates."

Top six Oregon cities with the highest theft rates
The figures listed are the total number of cars stolen and the rate per 100,000 residents, based on 2006 Census estimates.
1. Eugene 1,786 519.80
2. Portland-Vancouver-Beav. 9,952 457.54
3. Salem 1,401 362.28
4. Bend 305 198.02
5. Medford 366 183.65
6. Corvallis 85 104.39

Top 10 list of Oregon's most stolen vehicles
1. 1992 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1990 Toyota Camry
4. 1986 Toyota Pickup
5. 1994 Acura Integra
6. 1994 Nissan Sentra
7. 1988 Toyota 4Runner
8. 1990 Toyota Corolla
9. 1991 Ford Explorer
10. 1997 Ford F-150 Series

Avoid being a victim of car theft
· Keep your doors locked and windows completely rolled up.
· Remove keys from the ignition, even when briefly stepping away from your car.
· Keep valuable items such as bags, purses, cell phones and briefcases out of sight.
· Always park your vehicle in well-lit areas.
· Always activate your vehicle's security or alarm system when parked.