Avoid Car Theft: Protect your Car

A car is stolen every 26.4 seconds in America.(1) Avoid car theft using anti-theft devices and some basic common sense practices.

Devices
When choosing a new car, consider some anti-theft features. With older cars, try some upgrades or mechanical devices.

~ Window tint
Where laws allow, window tint protects a car from theft by preventing a thief from seeing how to get into the car without being noticed.

~ Alarms
Siren car alarms, or silent alarms which signal law enforcement, are the most standard of anti theft devices. When a thief tampers with the car, especially door locks and steering column or trying to "hot wire" the car, the alarm sounds.

~ Keyless (Remote) locks
The car locks are activated by a remote control: not a key in the door. Without the key chain remote, the windows must be broken to get into the car.

~ Vehicle immobilizers
These sophisticated companions to car alarms disable portions of the electrical or fuel systems, making it nearly impossible for a would-be thief to steal the car.

~ Keyless ignition
Buttons on key chain remotes control these ignitions. More expensive versions of the keyless ignition are voice-controlled or push-button inside the car with driver identity recognition.

~ Mechanical devices
Steering wheel and tire locks prevent car thieves from moving cars. The Club offers anti-theft products including its original steering wheel lock and Wheel Club.

Other choices include: Wolo Krook Lock, Lawman Unbreakable Car Bar, UNBREAKABLE AutoLock, The Wrap and SuperHooks

~ GPS locater
The two leading companies in locating stolen cars: OnStar and LoJack.

OnStar is a subscription service that is offered on all new General Motors (GM) cars sold in the US and Canada after 2007. Drivers receive remote activated door unlock, lights and horn and stolen vehicle location.(2)

LoJack is a theft recovery system. If the car is stolen and reported to the police, LoJack police tracking units can follow the signal of the radio transmitter to the location of the car.

All LoJack transmitters are registered in a global police database. 90% of all LoJack equipped stolen cars are recovered. (3)

Common sense

It does not take a lot of smarts to outsmart a car thief. A little thinking takes away most opportunities for a thief to steal your vehicle.

~ Park safely
Park in a well-lit area. Park close to walkways to prevent the thief from having uninterrupted time to steal the car.

~ Turn it off
Never leave a running car unattended. It only takes a moment to drive away.

~ Hide assets
Place valuables, like laptops and shopping bags, in the trunk or glove compartment. Cars with visible valuables are more enticing.

~ Lock doors and close windows
Thieves will try handles to find the easiest car to steal. If a thief can reach in the window and open the door, he will.

~ Keys in your pocket
Thieves know where keys are hidden on a car. Better (and cheaper) to be locked out of your car than have your car stolen.

~ Disable the ignition
If the car will be parked for more than 24 hours or in a theft area, don't let it drive away.

Beginner: Disconnect one battery cable.
Intermediate: Unplug the distributor cap.
Advanced: Remove the distributor rotor.

Keep your car from becoming a statistic by choosing anti-theft devices and exercising common sense.

(1) Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Uniform Crime Report: 2006

(2) OnStar by GM

(3) LoJack Global Licensee Network

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