Where You Shouldn't Park Your Car

For the first time, the National Insurance Crime Bureau has reported that nine of the top 10 hot spots for vehicle theft were all in the state of California. If you're a car owner on the West Coast, this report can put you on high alert over where you leave your car or park overnight.

Fortunately, there is some good news, as overall thefts in the state are lower than in previous years. Compared to 2012, car thefts were down 3.2 percent in 2013. This is good news for your auto insurance in California, despite the number of hotspots for theft. Here are the top 10 cities where cars were stolen most frequently in 2013:

1. Bakersfield, California
2. Fresno, California
3. Modesto, California
4. SF-Oakland-Hayward, California
5. Stockton-Lodi, California
6. Redding, California
7. Spokane, Washington
8. Vallejo-Fairfield, California
9. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California
10. Yuba City, California

The best way to keep your car safe

If you're like most car owners, your vehicle is a source of pride in your life and you might be reliant on it to get where you need to go. In any case, you don't want to lose your car to theft. As we enter the heart of summer, the number of car thefts will likely heat up, as July and August are the months when more of these incidents occur.

One of the best ways to deter thieves from stealing your ride is to park indoors, as this will keep it out of sight and, hopefully, out of mind. Typically, thieves spend time trolling cars on the street looking for an opportunity to steal one. However, when indoors, they don't get the same chance to scope out your vehicle. While it may be more expensive to park indoors in a garage, it can be worth every penny to keep your car safe from theft.