by Catelin McGlothlin

If you live in the United States, the odds of your vehicle being stolen are 1 in 210, according to 2006 data from the federal government and the Insurance Information Institute (III). Not only that, but the III reports that more than 75,000 airbags are stolen every year. Urban areas are the worst for car theft statistics, and if you live in the West or South, your chances of becoming a car theft victim are double the chances in the Midwest, and four times as likely for those living in the Northeast. The first car theft in recorded history took place in 1898, so car thieves have had plenty of time to refine their techniques.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported in 2007 that fewer than 60 percent of car theft victims ever got their vehicles back. Many of those vehicles were returned with body damage and expensive parts stripped off, requiring extensive repairs and body shop work. Law enforcement officials stress the need to call the police immediately if your car is stolen, but the recovery numbers are dismal. The best way to deal with car theft is to take these steps to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

* Lock up. Newer cars are easier than ever to secure when you step away even for a few minutes, with automatic locks and remote key fobs. Close your sunroof and roll up your windows before you leave. Avoid starting your car to warm it up unless you’re sitting in it. An idling vehicle with the keys in the ignition takes mere seconds to steal and drive away.

* 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 give a car thief extra incentive. Take your purse, briefcase, or electronic gadgets with you instead of leaving them in the car. Instead of keeping your car’s paperwork in the glovebox, carry it with you and make copies for other family members. Most of all, don’t deal with your tendency to forget your keys by keeping an extra one attached to the vehicle somehow. Car thieves know all the best spots to find hidden keys, and if they find yours, they don’t even have to break a window to steal your car.

* 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.

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend, the basic “Club” type of steering wheel lock gets good reviews by law enforcement officials and provides a visual deterrent to theft. Brake pedal locks can accomplish the same thing.

The popularity of car alarms is testimony to their effectiveness, and every year they get better. The latest improvements in vehicle security technology consist of highly efficient sensors that detect signs of theft like changes in air pressure, telltale sounds like shattering glass, and changes in elevation from front to rear or side to side. Thieves who jack up your car to remove the wheels or use a tow vehicle to steal your car now have less chance of success. Even the basic alarm consisting of a pressure switch on each door hooked to a siren or the car’s horn can go a long way toward chasing off the would-be car thief.

Some vehicle security systems work by locking out the ignition, fuel, or electrical systems until you touch a hidden switch or insert an electronically coded ignition key. Although a car thief may still steal components or tow your vehicle away, these systems deter the most common scenario of breaking in and hotwiring.

GPS devices and radio transmitters provide law enforcement with a way to find stolen vehicles and apprehend criminals. The LoJack transmitter system has a 90 percent recovery rate. Insurance carriers have begun offering their customers discounts on premiums to LoJack users, as well as on the transmitter systems themselves.

Car thieves love the Cadillac Escalade, the Hummer, and other big, luxurious SUVs because they can be resold for so much money. The 2005 and newer Dodge Charger is another favorite of crooks. If you’re shopping for a new car, keep in mind that a small car is one-eighth as likely to be stolen as an SUV. The all-time least popular vehicle with car thieves is the Volvo S70.

About the Author:
Catelin McGlothlin is a research expert and writer specializing in home and vehicle security. Get more information on remote alarms at Auto Security.

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