Arizona has a reason to celebrate being No. 2. The state no longer leads the nation in motor vehicle theft, shedding the title it’s had since 2000. Nevada now holds the dishonor, according to an FBI report on crime released Monday.

Detectives call it a crime of opportunity, but in Scottsdale automobile stealing is down for the third year in a row because police say residents are taking the easy chances away from thieves.

Crime numbers have dropped significantly in Tempe over the last decade, according to Tempe Police Department data, and Arizona Mills mall — once one of the worst areas of the city for auto theft and other crime – has worked hard to fix its own safety status.

In one of the nation’s worst metropolitan areas for auto theft, authorities will soon have an all-seeing set of eyes on their side.

In one of the nation’s worst metropolitan areas for auto theft, authorities will soon have an all-seeing set of eyes on their side.

Chandler police arrested 12 people Tuesday in breaking up a retail theft ring, police said.

Rebecca Simonet never thought anyone would steal fuel from her motor home, especially after buying what she figured was a pretty good locking gas cap.

Identity thieves are working overtime to cash in on the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but a Scottsdale-based company hopes to stop them in their tracks.

Identity thieves are working overtime to cash in on the victims of Hurricane Katrina, but a Scottsdale-based company hopes to stop them in their tracks.

Crime numbers have dropped significantly in Tempe over the last decade, according to Tempe Police Department data, and Arizona Mills mall — once one of the worst areas of the city for auto theft and other crime – has worked hard to fix its own safety status.

Crime numbers have dropped significantly in Tempe over the last decade, according to Tempe Police Department data, and Arizona Mills mall — once one of the worst areas of the city for auto theft and other crime – has worked hard to fix its own safety status.

Which Valley malls are the best and worst when it comes to car theft?

Authorities say a suspected car thief is hospitalized after a shootout with Arizona Department of Public Safety officers in San Tan Valley, east of Phoenix.

Arizona sorely needs solutions to its high vehicle-theft rate, now second-highest per year among the 50 states. But restoring front license plates in Arizona — eliminated for budgetary and effectiveness reasons 17 years ago — isn’t one of them.

With burglaries still the No. 1 crime problem in Paradise Valley, the town’s police department is counting on the public to help decrease the crimes by taking more precautions.

A man who led police on a high-speed chase through west Mesa and south Scottsdale in a stolen vehicle on Saturday is facing auto theft-related charges after officers were able to stop his vehicle with a PIT maneuver to end the chase.

Violent crimes were down for the first six months of 2003 in the East Valley’s largest communities, Tempe and Mesa, but were up in Chandler and Gilbert, the FBI reported Monday.

Chandler police say statistics show they have increased the peace with a proactive approach to serious crimes.

Alert police officers spotted and arrested an alleged car thief after a 30 minute chase through a Tempe neighborhood Thursday night.

Crime in Arizona dropped sharply in 2009, with overall violent crime down by 13.9 percent.

A third East Valley city, Chandler, is reporting a drop in serious crimes.

Not surprisingly, thieves tend to steal the cars most people covet, which is why the Cadillac Escalade, the official ride of super-jocks, hip-hop artists, assorted other celebs and Tony Soprano, is the most stolen, although the smart thief would probably be wise to avoid Mr. Soprano’s vehicle.

Although burglaries and stolen vehicles continue to be a problem in some East Valley communities, on the whole major crimes fell last year, crime statistics indicate.

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. ended its employee-discount incentive program Monday but was hoping to extend its summertime sales boom by lowering prices and adding features to its 2006 models.