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How to Outsmart Car Thieves
By State Farm Insurance, January 2003
A car is stolen about every 21 seconds in North America, making auto theft one of the nation's most costly property crimes.
No vehicle is theft-proof, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk of returning to an empty parking space. The U.S. Car Care Council recommends multiple layers of defense to thwart would-be car thieves:
The common sense approach. This is the simplest, most cost-effective way to deter auto theft. Anytime you leave your car:
- Take the keys from the ignition,
- Lock all doors,
- Close all windows (without leaving windows cracked),
- Park in high-traffic areas,
- Park in a well-lighted area, and
- Keep valuables hidden from plain view.
Visible or audible device. Visible or audible devices alert thieves that your vehicle is protected. For example, according to a recent study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, users of steering wheel locks were four times less likely to become a vehicle theft victim than the average motorist. These devices include:
- Steering wheel locks,
- Car alarms, and
- Steering column collars.
Immobilize the vehicle. Certain devices prevent thieves from bypassing the ignition and hot-wiring a vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in secondary keys. Others inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. A third category passively immobilizes the vehicle by interrupting the starter, ignition or fuel. These include:
- Vehicle immobilizers,
- Fuel cut-off switches, and
- Starter disablers.
Tracking system. A tracking system device emits a signal to a police or monitoring station when the vehicle is reported stolen. Tracking systems are very effective in helping recover stolen vehicles. If your vehicle is stolen, call the police immediately and then your insurance agent.