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But
the Brakes on Car Theft by
Making Yours Tough to Steal
Car theft is almost an epidemic in
certain parts of the country. And just because you have insurance, don't
think that car theft doesn't cost you.
After your house, your car could be the
biggest investment you have. Use a layered approach to security to make it
a harder target for thieves. Start with the No Cost Layer and work your
way up.
No Cost Layer
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Lock it. No surprise here, half
of all stolen vehicles are left unlocked.
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Take the keys. Almost 20% of
stolen vehicles have the keys in them!
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Park in the light. More car thefts
happen at night than during the day...imagine that.
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Park in attended lots.
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Don't leave your car running -- ever.
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Completely close your car windows.
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Hide all your valuables in the trunk.
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But don't hide a spare key on the car
somewhere -- the bad guys know where to look.
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Don't leave your title in the car.
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Set your parking break when you park and
turn your wheels toward the curb. This should guard against getting towed
away somewhat, but I've seen repo trucks simply drag a vehicle down the street
with the locked tires squealing until they can get the car up onto a dolly or a
ramp.
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Lock your garage door and lock your car
inside the garage as well.
Low Cost Layer
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Buy a steering wheel collar
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Install an audible alarm
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Put on a steering wheel lock
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Etch your vehicle identification number
on your windows (some communities will help you do this for free)
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Participate in your community's anti-car
theft programs and display the theft deterrent decals.
Some Cost Layer
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Install a kill switch.
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Install a disabler on the ignition,
starter or fuel system.
High Cost Layer
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Purchase or subscribe to a tracking
system that allows police or a monitoring company to track your vehicle after
you've reported it stolen.
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