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More Cars Being Stolen With Keys Left Inside, California Leads Nation

FAIRFIELD (CBS SF) – One week after a thief stole an idling car in Fairfield with a boy sleeping inside, prompting a statewide Amber Alert, a new report finds the number of vehicles being stolen with the keys left inside is on the rise.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, out of the estimated 659,717 car thefts in the U.S. last year, 44,828 thefts or 6.7 percent had keys left in the vehicle. That percentage is up from 5.4 percent in 2012 and 6 percent in 2013.

The group said such thefts are rising despite an overall drop in car thefts in recent years.

"Stealing a vehicle is very difficult with today's anti-theft technology and leaving the keys in the vehicle is an open invitation for the opportunistic car thief," NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle said in a statement.

Wehrle said he is not surprised by the numbers and said it could be higher because drivers may not have admitted leaving their keys in their insurance claim or police report.

California led the nation in thefts with keys left in the vehicle, the group said, followed by Texas and Florida.

According to authorities, a thief stole a sedan parked in the driveway of a home in Fairfield on the morning of April 20th, with an 8-year-old boy sleeping in the back seat. Paul Guzman, the boy's father, said the idling vehicle was left unattended for 30 seconds when the car was stolen.

An Amber Alert was issued as authorities searched for the boy and vehicle.

Police said the suspect didn't realize a child was in the car, prompting him to ditch the vehicle. The boy was found unharmed and still sleeping hours later.

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