Although car theft in the United States decreases slightly every year, it’s still a significant problem. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the U.S. motor vehicle theft rate in 2007 was 363.3 per 100,000 people. Every 28.8 seconds a car is stolen (2008 FBI data). Theft of components is also a problem, with 75,000 stolen airbags a year reported by the III. The problem is worst in urban areas. The South and West each account for about 36 percent of all car thefts in the country. Taken together, these two regions were the scene of nearly three-quarters of motor vehicle thefts in the United States.
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.
* Lock your vehicle and don’t leave it running. Your car’s door locks are the cheapest, easiest deterrent against car thieves. Don’t leave sunroofs or windows open, even on the hottest days. Leaving your car running while you’re not around is an open invitation for theft. Law enforcement officials stress that many cars are stolen on a whim for joyriding purposes because the owner made it easy for the thief.
* Parking is an issue, both at home and away. At home, use your garage and lock it up, especially night. On-street parking can be a haven for thieves, especially in high-crime areas, so choose spots with good lighting and a good flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
* 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.
Car security comes in many types and price ranges. At the most basic level, a simple steering wheel lock or brake pedal lock is an inexpensive way to secure your vehicle and is visible to thieves who might be sizing your vehicle up.
Car alarm systems have sensors that trigger attention-getting devices like sirens, the cars horn, and flashing the headlights when a thief tries to break into the car. Sensors range from basic switches that trigger when a car door is opened, to glass-breaking detectors for thieves who use the smash-and-grab approach, motion sensors, sensors that detect changes in air pressure, and tilt detectors to deter crooks who bring a tow truck with them when they go out stealing vehicles.
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.
New tracking technologies have become standard equipment on high-end vehicles. Global positioning systems (GPS) can help law enforcement find your vehicle after a theft. Police can also track a vehicle using a tracking systems with a hidden transmitter to allow police to track the vehicle. An example of this type of system is the LoJack, which operates over half of the states in the U.S. Law enforcement likes these systems because they frequently lead to chop shops and other illegal theft operations and the arrest of criminals.
Certain vehicles are frequent targets for car thieves, especially high-end sport utility vehicles. The Cadillac Escalade and the Hummer were featured last year in an ABC News article on the most stolen cars in the U.S. Models among the least likely to be stolen are the Mercedes E Class, Buick Rainier and Subaru Forester.
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Tags: electronics, vehicles, Cars, transportation
