• The most stolen car the state is 2000 Dodge Ram Pickup

UPDATE: LANSING - The auto theft in the state is down 9.35 percent from 2009 to 2010. Since the inception of the ATPA in 1986, auto thefts in Michigan have fallen by 62 percent, according to the report.

The report found what thieves target by model, color and month most often stolen. Michigan's most stolen vehicles from 2011:

Make/Model Color Month

1. 2000 Dodge Ram pickup Black November

2. 1999 Dodge Ram pickup White December

3. 2002 Dodge Ram pickup Red October

4. 1998 Ford pickup Blue September

5. 1997 Dodge Ram pickup Silver August

“Since the inception of ATP back to 1986, the purpose of it is to prevent auto theft in the state of Michigan. Over the last 25 years, we have done a very good job in decreasing auto theft since that day,” Dan Vartanian, the executive director at the ATPA said.

Through assessments, the ATPA gets $1 dollar of every non-commercial vehicle insured in the state, totaling roughly $6 million a year. That money is then granted to local law enforcement.

“We have about 14 law force agencies participate our tax forces that consist of both local police departments as well as county sheriffs, officers and Michigan state police,” Vartanian said.

Law enforcement authorities have a number of strategies to decrease car theft. Another tactic police use is called a “Bait car”. They will place a car in a night theft area and equipped it with GPS so they can quickly track down thieves.

ORIGINAL STORY: LANSING - The most stolen car in the state may surprise you, it is 2000 Dodge Ram Pickup, according to the recent report from the Michigan Automobile Theft Prevention (ATPA).