Interestingly, New York saw its car theft rate declare years after years since the 90s. San Francisco's theft rate also declined, but it does so rather unevenly.
Alone yes, you might however be able to say that it has meaning if you can show that the registered cars per capita stayed at the same level over that period.
I'm not positive that would be what you'd need to say that but It sounds right in my head, anyone have any better ideas?
Wonder what's the story there?
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=car+theft+statistic+san...