Hot Wheels 2008, the National Insurance Crime Bureau's companion study to its annual Hot Spots auto theft report examines data reported to the National Crime Information Center and determines the vehicle make, model and model year most reported stolen in 2007.

To see a full report, visit www.nicb.org.

For 2007, the most stolen vehicles in the nation were the following:

* 1995 Honda Civic,

* 1991 Honda Accord,

* 1989 Toyota Camry,

* 1997 Ford F-150 Series Pickup,

* 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup,

* 1994 Acura Integra,

* 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup,

* 1994 Nissan Sentra,

* 1988 Toyota Pickup, and

* 2007 Toyota Corolla.

The rankings from 2006 are as follows;

* 1995 Honda Civic,

* 1991 Honda Accord,

* Toyota Camry,

* Ford F-150 Series Pickup,

* 2005 Dodge Ram Pickup,

* 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup,

* 1994 Nissan Sentra,

* 1994 Dodge Caravan,

* 1994 Saturn GL, and

* 1990 Acura Integra.

The NICB study confirms that theft of older model vehicles has remained constant for the past several years. Thieves continue to target these vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts.

On a positive note, the FBI preliminary Uniform Crime Report data reveals that motor vehicle theft is headed for an 8.9 percent decrease in 2007. The final data will be released later this year.

Adding to its arsenal of weapons in the fight against fraud and theft, the NICB has expanded its popular VINCheck feature.

This popular consumer protection service now includes information on vehicles that have been declared "total losses" by participating NICB member insurance companies. Unrecovered stolen vehicle data and flood vehicle data is also available through VINCheck.

A layered approach to protection: To protect their investment, vehicle owners are urged to followed NICB's "layered approach" to auto theft prevention by employing simple, low-cost suggestions to make their vehicle less attractive to thieves.

NICB's four layers of protection are:

* Common sense. The cheapest form of defense is to simply employ the antitheft devices that are standard on all vehicles: locks. Lock you car and take your keys,

* Warning device. Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it,

* Immobilizing device. Kill switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices which are high and low tech, but extremely effective. Generally speaking, if your car won't start, it won't get stolen, and

* Tracking device. Some systems use GPS to track your vehicle. Others use radio frequency technology and help law enforcement track and recover it quickly.

And always check in with VINCheck before buying a used vehicle.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is the nation's premier not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to fighting insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training and public awareness.