| Fact: a vehicle is stolen every 25 seconds in the U.S. | | | | is safer for your car to be parked in a garage than |
| New vehicles are not the only targets, but older | | | | having it sit out on the street. |
| vehicles are actually a fan favorite because most of | | | | 14. When parking in a garage, lock the car and the |
| them are easy to steal, and its parts are in high | | | | garage door. By doing so, car theft prevention |
| demand. A vehicle that is stripped and its parts sold | | | | greatly increases. |
| are actually worth 2 to 3 times the value of the car | | | | 15. Do not leave the registration or title in your car. A |
| intact. No vehicle or anti-theft device is 100% theft | | | | car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. Keep |
| proof. | | | | the title at your home or office, and carry |
| Time is a car thief's greatest enemy. The harder it is | | | | registration in your purse or wallet. |
| for your car to steal, the longer it takes to be stolen. | | | | 16. Disable your car when leaving it unattended for |
| The more time a thief needs, the greater the chance | | | | long periods of time. Remove theelectronic ignition |
| of detection. By making a vehicle a tougher target, | | | | fuse, coil wire, or otherwise disable your vehicle |
| the more likely the thief will move on to the next car | | | | anytime thieves may have extended access to it. |
| that is easier to steal. By installing an anti-theft device | | | | 17. Use straight locks instead of "T" shaped lock |
| you may qualify for an automobile insurance discount. | | | | asssemblies. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies |
| Contact your insurance carrier for further information | | | | at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. |
| to see if you qualify. | | | | A thief can use various tools to gain access inside |
| "No Cost" Precautions | | | | the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks |
| 1. Take your keys with you. Nearly 20% of all | | | | prevent this. |
| vehicles stolen had the keys in them. | | | | 18. Etch the vehicle identification number (VIN) on |
| 2. Lock up your car. Approximately 50% of all | | | | several major car parts. Stolen cars/parts are more |
| vehicles stolen were left unlocked. | | | | easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been |
| 3. Never hide a spare key in your car. Extra keys can | | | | etched on car windows and major parts. |
| easily be found if a thief takes time to look. | | | | 19. Engrave identifying numbers on expensive |
| 4. Park in well lit areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts | | | | accessories. Engrave personal I.D. numbers such as |
| happen at night. | | | | driver license numbers or the last four digits of your |
| 5. Park in supervised lots. Car thieves do not like | | | | social security number on car stereos, CD players, cell |
| witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots. | | | | phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing |
| 6. If you park in an supervised lot, leave only the | | | | of them. |
| door/ignition key. If your trunk and glove | | | | 20. Put business cards, address labels, or other |
| compartment use the same key as the door, have | | | | identifying information inside vehicle doors. Car |
| one of them changed. Do not give the attendant | | | | thieves usually change vehicle identification numbers. |
| easy access to your glove compartment and trunk. | | | | By marking your vehicle as much as possible, you |
| Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire and | | | | help police in identifying your car. |
| battery to ensure they are the same as those you | | | | 21. Install an ignition kill switch. Splice an inexpensive |
| had when you parked. | | | | toggle switch into your ignition wire or starter. The |
| 7. Never leave your car running even for a minute. | | | | trick is hiding the switch well. |
| Vehicles are commonly stolen at gas stations, | | | | 22. Install a fuel kill switch. The valve that enables the |
| convenience stores, ATM's, etc. Many vehicles are | | | | flow of fuel is closed when the switch is off. |
| also stolen on cold weather mornings when the | | | | 23. Use a visible steering wheel lock such as "THE |
| owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up. In | | | | CLUB." This prevents the steering wheel from being |
| some states, leaving your key in an unattended | | | | turned properly. |
| motor vehicle is a crime. | | | | 24. Use floorboard locks to disable the gas or brake |
| 8. When parking close your car windows all the way. | | | | pedal. |
| Do not make it any easier for the thief to enter your | | | | 25. Use gearshift locks. This disables shifting of the |
| vehicle. | | | | transmission by locking it in place. |
| 9. Never leave valuables in plain sight. Do not make | | | | 26. Use tire/wheel boot locks; i.e. a Rhino. Wrap it |
| your car a more favorable target that attracts | | | | around the wheel to prevent the vehicle from |
| thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight. | | | | moving. This is the same tool that municipal parking |
| 10. Park with your wheels turned towards the curb. | | | | enforcement and universities use to enforce parking |
| This makes it tough for your car to be towed away. | | | | violations. |
| Turn your wheels to the side when parking in the | | | | 27. Use hood locks. This prevents the thief from |
| driveways and parking lots. | | | | gaining access to your security system and battery |
| 11. If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your | | | | to disable your alarm. |
| driveway. If it is front-wheel drive, park front end | | | | 28. Use an armored collar around the steering column. |
| first. For four-wheel drive vehicles the rear wheels | | | | This protects the column and ignition. |
| sometimes lock, making them difficult to tow. | | | | 29. Use an alarm. Loud warnings should sound when |
| 12. Always use your parking brake when parking. Not | | | | doors/hood/trunk are opened. |
| only does this prevent the car from moving during | | | | 30. Use a GPS in your vehicle. This is a silent |
| PARK, but it also makes it tougher for thieves to | | | | transmitter hidden in car. This enables police to track |
| tow. | | | | the car. Example: LoJack. |
| 13. If you have a garage, park your vehicle inside. It | | | | |