CLEVELAND -- Car theft happens every day in America. And not too long ago it happened to Debbie Trevarthen twice

"My husband came and said, 'Where did you park the car?' and I said, 'Right on the corner.' and it was gone," she said.

Thieves stole Trevarthen's 1994 Pontiac Sunbird two times in less than three months. The second time they stripped it bare.

"Everything was gone, engine, everything was gone," Trevarthen said.

NewsChannel5 analyzed a full year's worth of stolen car reports from Cleveland to Akron and surrounding suburbs. This information could help you protect your car from being stolen. (The darker the color in the area code pictures, the more cars stolen.)

Trevarthen's car was stolen at Great Lakes Mall. Her car was one of 13 cars stolen from the mall last year.

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At Great Northern Mall, thieves stole 15 cars. And at South Park Mall, they got five.

"Those vehicles can be stolen in a matter of less than 30 seconds," said Progressive Insurance agent John Sauerland.

Sauerland, general manager, says nowadays mall parking lots are less attractive targets for car thieves because of better security.

"In Ohio, Cleveland is the hot spot for auto theft," Sauerland said.

He said Cleveland runs at 10 times the national average for stolen cars.

"When we go downtown, we can go into the parking garage or the Indians games we park in garages. I wouldn't park on the street," he said.

Sauerland said it's a good idea for Trevarthen to park in a garage, but an even better idea may be to avoid the three hot spots NewsChannel5 found.

Cleveland Stolen Car Hot Spots:

• Area just west of downtown, the 44102 zip code -- 89 cars disappeared last year
• Cleveland near Newburg Heights in the 44105 zip code -- 74 cars stolen (12 cars were stolen in Newburg Heights)
• Memphis Avenue near Old Brooklyn in the 44109 zip code -- 72 cars stolen

Akron Stolen Car Hot Spots:

• Akron Area near South Arlington in the 44306 zip code -- 180 cars stolen
• Akron/Maple Valley Area in the 44320 zip code -- 140 cars were stolen
• North Hill area of Akron in the 44310 zip code -- 124 cars stolen

Trevarthen now drives a minivan she borrowed from a relative. She can't afford to buy a new car just yet, nor can she afford to lose the one that she takes back to the mall every day.

"That's where I work, I don't get much of a choice. I have to park my car. I keep it locked," she said.

For a list of cars stolen in various zip codes, click here.