Tips for Protecting Yourself Against Car Theft
Tip It!As a followup to yesterday’s article about the types of cars that are most frequently stolen in the United States, I though I’d share some tips from the National Insurance Crime Bureau for protecting yourself against auto theft. There’s nothing particularly earth-shattering here, but they’re still worth keeping in mind.
- Common Sense. The cheapest form of defense is to simply lock your car and take your keys with you.
- Warning Devices. Having (and using) a visible or audible alarm is another way to make sure will still be there when you come back.
- Immobilizing Devices. “Kill†switches, fuel cut-offs, and smart keys can all be quite effective. If your car won’t start, it’s unlikely to get stolen.
- Tracking Devices. If your car gets stolen, a tracking system can help local law enforcement officials quickly find and recover it.
On top of these tips, I’d also add that you don’t want to leave anything of value laying out in plain sight. While having your car stolen would suck, being the victim of a “smash and grab” isn’t much better.
In the end, if someone really wants to steal (or break into) your car, they probably will. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to make your car a less attractive target than the one parked next to it.
In the end, this is a bit like putting up an alarm monitoring sign in your front yard even if you don’t have an alarm system. No, the sign (or even an alarm system) won’t stop someone that is determined to get into your house. It might, however, make the casual thief move on down the street.
Published on July 15th, 2008 - 2 Comments
Filed under: Automotive
About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!
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July 15th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
I would add – don’t leave anything in your car…period. I’ve had my car broken into for a flat, canvas bag – I guess the crook thought their might be some important papers in it. I’ve also had my car broken into for my glasses and some change.
If you are going to put anything in your trunk – like your purse or something of value – do it before you leave your home. Believe it or not crooks watch parking lots and look for people putting valuables in their trunk. When they see you park and open your trunk they assume you are putting somethign of value in it.
A few years ago there were people breaking into cars at the cemetary. It was a place where old women (from the neighboring wealthy areas) came to walk for exercise. They would put their purses in the trunk of the car. There was a rash of car robberies. I know this happens at the tennis centers where I play too. Crooks are smart – they go to areas where rich people are and look for them to do stupid things.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
i definitely have to agree with KC. Living in Philadelphia, i’ve had friends who have had their cars broken into for change that was left out, GPS units, Ipods, cds (thieves could get at least $1.00 for each cd@a used cd shop), cellphones, etc, etc, etc.
Just clean out your car before you go anywhere that you might have to park.
if you don’t give them any temptation, then that is the best defense of all.
for me personally, i have an electronic alarm as well as a club that i use.