Avoid Car Theft with these Easy Precautions

Car theft has been a problem in the United States since cars were invented. A car or other vehicle is stolen in the United States every 28.8 seconds according to 2008 data from the FBI. The chances of your car being stolen in the U.S. are 1 in 210 according to data from federal agencies and the Insurance Information Institute. The odds vary geographically. The Northeast has the lowest incidence of vehicle thefts, about 9.8 percent, and the Midwest 18.2 percent. The South and West have the highest percentage of vehicle thefts, about 36 percent each. Your chances of having your car stolen are highest in urban areas.

Although vehicle theft has been decreasing every year since 2006, only 59% of stolen vehicles were recovered last year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Car theft is a major problem that can leave you without transportation while you deal with a time-consuming insurance claim. Here are some ways to reduce your chances of becoming a car thief’s next victim.

* Secure your car. The best antitheft device is standard equipment on all vehicles: lock your vehicle every time you leave it, even for a minute. Also be sure to close your car windows and sunroof before you get out and lock. Never leave your car with the motor running, even in your own driveway. Car theft is an opportunistic crime, and the sight of an unattended car sending out exhaust with no one in sight is too tempting for thieves.

* Invest in a garage if you can. If you have a garage, you can increase your car’s security (and your own) by always locking it. If you don’t have a garage, parking in your driveway is safer than a spot at the curb. Away from home, pick your parking spots carefully and avoid poorly lit, low-traffic streets, especially after dark.

* Don’t make thieves’ job easier. Crime experts warn against leaving a spare key hidden in or on the vehicle, because car thieves know all the good hiding spots for a spare key. Keep your vehicle papers with you and make a set for each driver in the family, instead of leaving them in the glove box. Keep the inside of your car clean and empty. Take your cell phone, music player, and other electronic devices with you when you leave the car, and never leave a purse, briefcase, or closed bag in plain sight while you’re gone.

* If you want to add an extra shield of protection, a number of devices are available that can go a long way toward making your car theftproof.

An inexpensive anti-theft device consists of a heavy steel clamp that fits over your steering wheel to keep a car thief from steering it after stealing it. You carry the key to the device on your key ring. Although these devices can be jimmied by a determined crook, this takes extra time, and car thieves like to work quickly.

A car alarm is a highly effective way to chase thieves away from your car and alert law enforcement in the area. An alarm system is simply a sensing device attached to noisemakers like sirens and horns. Sophisticated alarm systems go beyond the basic door trigger switch found in low-end systems and use motion detectors, sound sensors that pick up the pitch of glass breaking, air pressure detectors that know when a car door is open, and even sensors that know when your vehicle is being driven up a ramp onto a thief’s flatbed trailer.

The kill switch is a relatively new development in vehicle security. These anti-theft devices work by keeping your car from starting unless you supply the correct inputs. Special ignition keys that release a radio signal to unlock your car’s starting system are especialy popular. Other lockout devices may disable your car’s fuel or electrical system while you’re away.

Tracking devices can use either the cars onboard GPS system or radiofrequency technology to track your cars whereabouts after its stolen and increase your chances of getting it back. Some insurance companies offer their customers discounts on tracking devices as well as a premium discount for using these technologies.

Avoiding the car models that are most popular with thieves is another way to keep from becoming a victim. Crooks like late-model luxury SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade and the Hummer H2 because of their high resale price. If a thief has a chance to choose between stealing an SUV and stealing a small car, odds are eight times higher that the SUV owner will be the victim.

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