Vehicle thefts were down in California for the third year in a row in 2008, including a 16.4 decrease in Santa Clara County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Of the 7,560 vehicles stolen in Santa Clara County, 17.9 percent were recovered, the CHP said.

The number of reported thefts statewide dropped 12.2 percent, the biggest decrease in more than 10 years.

In San Mateo County, 2,420 vehicle thefts were reported in 2008, a decrease of about 7.7 percent. Of those stolen, 1.4 percent were recovered.

CHP spokeswoman Jaime Coffee attributed the decline to a combination of efforts by law enforcement agencies working together to combat vehicle theft and public education. "A little prevention goes a long way," she said.

She said simple measures, such as locking doors and taking advantage of anti-theft devices, greatly help deter auto theft.

Additional measures include parking in a well-lit, populated area; considering an alarm or device that alerts thieves that the vehicle is protected; taking advantage of immobilizing devices that prevent thieves from bypassing the ignition and hotwiring a vehicle; and the use of tracking devices that help authorities recover stolen vehicles.

Honda Accords, Honda Civics and Toyota Camrys were the most frequently stolen cars, followed by Acura Integras, Nissan Sentras and Saturn SLs.

— Bay City News Service