Vehicle thefts down 6.2% in California

Vehicle thefts declined in California last year after increases for two consecutive years, the California Highway Patrol announced Monday.

Although 175,351 vehicles were stolen in 2017 — about one every three minutes — that number represents a 6.2 percent statewide decline, the CHP said. The drop was the biggest since 2014.

The statistics come from the state Department of Justice vehicle theft database, said Sgt. Rob Nacke, a CHP spokesman for the Bay Area.

He credited new anti-theft technology, including advanced key fobs that communicate electronically with car engines, as well as more aggressive tactics by law enforcement. Those tactics include the use of bait cars and license plate readers, often in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, he said.

“Although the overall number of vehicles stolen is down, there is still much more work to be done,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Law enforcement can’t solve the problem alone.”

The CHP also credited the public with helping reduce car theft, and called for continued vigilance that includes parking in well-lit, secure and highly visible locations, locking doors and rolling up windows, using alarm systems, never leaving a car unattended with its engine running, and not leaving valuable items in a car where they can be seen.

“You just want to use good common sense,” Nacke said. “With car theft, it’s rare that someone gets carjacked. It’s usually just a crime of opportunity.”

California is not only the nation’s most populous state, but also has the most registered vehicles, a number that’s been increasing. Not surprisingly, it’s the leading state for car thefts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“California does have a lot of car thefts,” Nacke said, “but the CHP is committed to reducing them.” Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan