SUVs, pickup trucks popular among California thieves. (Loss/Risk Management Notes Property/Casualty).

Thieves in California's urban areas prefer Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords, mirroring a national trend. But in rural and border regions, pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles are more likely to be stolen, according to a new national report.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Oldsmobile Cutlass remain the vehicles that are stolen most often. They're also popular targets for theft in several California regions.

But in areas such as Fresno, the rural areas of San Bernadino and Riverside counties, and San Diego County, thieves are also likely to find pickup trucks and SUVs attractive, according to crime bureau data.

The crime bureau is a nonprofit association dedicated to fighting insurance fraud and providing theft information analysis, forecasting, criminal investigation support, training and public awareness.

The report also found that auto theft is on the rise in the United States, after a 10-year decline.

Recent statistics from the FB Uniform Crime Report show auto heft rates rose 1.2% from 1999 to 000. There were 1,165,559 auto theft in 2000 and 1,152,057 in 1999.

The crime bureau said several factors contributed to the rise, including a sinking U.S. economy that spurs more thieves to steal vehicle for financial gain, the reassignment of many law enforcement officers from auto theft task forces, and open international borders that are difficult to monitor for stolen vehicles.