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.
The III reported dismal statistics in 2007 on apprehending car thieves, with an arrest rate of only 12.6 percent. Furthermore, the the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that year that 41 percent of stolen vehicles were never recovered. If your car is stolen, there isn't much you can do after the fact except call the police and file an insurance claim. Meanwhile, you won't have transportation unless you either rent a car or go out and buy another one. It's much better to take the following precautions to prevent car theft before it happens to you.
* 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.
* Be careful where you park. When you park at home, a locked garage is best, but the driveway is still safer than the street. Choose well-traveled, well-lit areas when parking away from home, for your own safety as well as to avoid vehicle theft.
* 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.
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.
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.
The III reported dismal statistics in 2007 on apprehending car thieves, with an arrest rate of only 12.6 percent. Furthermore, the the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that year that 41 percent of stolen vehicles were never recovered. If your car is stolen, there isn't much you can do after the fact except call the police and file an insurance claim. Meanwhile, you won't have transportation unless you either rent a car or go out and buy another one. It's much better to take the following precautions to prevent car theft before it happens to you.
* 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.
* Be careful where you park. When you park at home, a locked garage is best, but the driveway is still safer than the street. Choose well-traveled, well-lit areas when parking away from home, for your own safety as well as to avoid vehicle theft.
* 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.
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.
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 car security. Learn more about remote alarms at Auto Security.
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