Don't Become a Car Thief's Next Victim
by Catelin McGlothlin

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.

* 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 give a car thief extra incentive. Take your purse, briefcase, or electronic gadgets with you instead of leaving them in the car. Instead of keeping your car's paperwork in the glovebox, carry it with you and make copies for other family members. Most of all, don't deal with your tendency to forget your keys by keeping an extra one attached to the vehicle somehow. Car thieves know all the best spots to find hidden keys, and if they find yours, they don't even have to break a window to steal your car.

* 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.

The popularity of car alarms is testimony to their effectiveness, and every year they get better. The latest improvements in vehicle security technology consist of highly efficient sensors that detect signs of theft like changes in air pressure, telltale sounds like shattering glass, and changes in elevation from front to rear or side to side. Thieves who jack up your car to remove the wheels or use a tow vehicle to steal your car now have less chance of success. Even the basic alarm consisting of a pressure switch on each door hooked to a siren or the car's horn can go a long way toward chasing off the would-be car thief.

Immobilizing devices, also known as kill switches, work by disabling vital components necessary to start your car, such as the fuel pump or the battery circuit. Radiofrequency identification devices (RFIDs) only allow your car to start if you use an ignition key that emits an electronic signal.

Tracking devices can use either the cars onboard GPS system or radiofrequency technology to track your cars whereabouts after its stolen and increase your chances of getting it back. Some insurance companies offer their customers discounts on tracking devices as well as a premium discount for using these technologies.

Avoiding the car models that are most popular with thieves is another way to keep from becoming a victim. Crooks like late-model luxury SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade and the Hummer H2 because of their high resale price. If a thief has a chance to choose between stealing an SUV and stealing a small car, odds are eight times higher that the SUV owner will be the victim.

Author: Catelin McGlothlin

About the author:
Catelin McGlothlin is a researcher and writer specializing in home and vehicle security. Learn more about remote alarms at Auto Security.

Article source: Free Automotive Articles.