From the Associated Press:

The California Highway Patrol says vehicle thefts in the state are down for the fourth consecutive year.
The agency said Wednesday that vehicle thefts in California dropped 15 percent from 2008 to 2009. Of the vehicles reported stolen last year, more than 88 percent were recovered.
Southern California is a hot spot for vehicle theft. The agency says approximately 53 percent of all thefts in 2009 occurred in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. But San Diego County had the largest drop in thefts, down 30 percent in 2009 from the year before.
CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement that since 2005, the state has seen a 35 percent reduction in stolen vehicles.
The drop is attributed to a combination of education, technology and tougher enforcement.