Any one of the most stolen cars can be stolen by professional auto thief at any time, but if you drive one of the most sotlen cars and a thieves want to steal it, make them really work for it! Here are some ways to protect yourself from your car becoming one of the most stolen cars. The more difficult you make your car to steal, the less likely yours will become one of the most stolen cars.
These auto theft prevention techniques vary on your vehicle and location. Determine which auto theft prevention is best for you by examining both your budget and personal preferences.
Common sense most stolen car prevention
Of all the auto theft prevention techniques, these are the easiest and most inexpensive to deter car thieves and avoid having your car becoming a statistic of most stolen cars. These tips should be followed even if leaving your car for a brief moment, it takes a most stolen cars auto thief less than thirty seconds to steal a car.
- Never leave the keys in the car.
- Lock the doors
- Close the windows
- Park in well lit, visible areas.
- Never leave the engine running and vehicle unlocked, no matter how short a period of time.
- Hide all valuables
Most Stolen Cars warning devices
This is either a visible or audible auto theft prevention device to alert thieves your vehicle is protected. Car thieves prefer quick, easy and quite targets and will choose an unprotected car over one that poses difficulties. Popular auto theft prevention devices:
- Steering column collars / "the club"
- Audible auto theft alarms
- Steering wheel / Brake pedal lock
- Brake locks
- Wheel locks
- Tire locks / Tire deflators
- Identification markers in or on vehicle
- Window etching
- Micro Dot Marking
Immobilizing Most Stolen Cars Prevention Device - Kill Switch
This type of auto theft prevention prevents thieves from hot-wiring the car. These devices either use computer chips in ignition keys or obstruct electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch disables the device. Popular immobilizing devices:
- Smart key
- Hidden kill switch
- Fuse cut-off switch
- Starter, ignition and / or fuel disabling device
- Wireless, ignition authentication
Most Stolen Cars Tracking Devices
Tracking devices emit a signal to the police or tracking center when an auto theft occurs. Tracking devices are very effective in helping the police recover stolen cars and bring auto thieves to justice. Tracking devices use a combination of GPS and wireless technology to track a stolen car. Some systems notify the owner when the car is moved, the car is then tracked with a computer. Popular auto theft tracking devices:
- Factory installed systems: GM Onstar, Mercedes-Benz TeleAid, BMW Assist, Lexus Enform, Toyota Safety Connect
- LoJack
- Mobile IQ
- Zoombak
For a more detailed explanation how each each auto theft tracking system works and costs, click here.
Important things to remember:
If your car is left unlocked, the keys left in the car or valuables left in sight, your chance of becoming a victim of auto theft is: 1 in 30
If your car is locked, the keys removed and valuables concealed, chances of becoming an auto theft victim is: 1 in 1000
If your car is locked, the keys removed and valuables concealed with the use of a visible anti-auto-theft device, your chance of being an auto theft victim is: 1 in 30,000
When ever you are involved in an accident, be sure to keep you cool. Some car jackings occur by creating a low impact accident, when the driver pulls over the auto thieves proceed to jack the car. Always pull over in a well lit, well populated area and don't be afraid to call the non-emergency police line to have a squad car come to the scene for both your protection and for an official police report of the incident. This can help for safety, insurance purposes and to avoid being a victim of auto theft.
Most Stolen Cars Theft Recovery
Systems like LoJack, Onstar and various other GPS tracking systems can prevent most stolen cars from successfully being stolen.
LoJack reports a 90-percent recovery rate and OnStar reports a 76-percent recovery rate. Most stolen cars are returned to their rightful owner within 24 hours and many of the car thieves are brought to justice.
Most stolen cars theft GPS prevention devices like Lojack work with police to quickly recover the stolen car. Police in 28 participating states were given Lojack receivers, which can receive a transmitted signal from a stolen car from 3-5 miles in distance, let them know the relative proximity and direction. A description of the stolen car by Lojack helps police in the area identify the stolen vehicle. From the air, a signal from a stolen car with a Lojack device can reportedly be picked up from 40 miles away.
The Lojack is powered by the car's battery, but if the battery is disconnected the Lojack can operate from it's own internal battery. The unit can be installed in roughly 20 places in a car, making it difficult for car thieves to locate and disable.