A vehicle is stolen every 26 seconds. Protect your car with alarms, tricks and a lot of common sense.
Car Buying Tips
6 Auto Theft Prevention Tips
More than a million cars are stolen each year in the US. Or, to give you a scarier number, every 26 seconds a vehicle is stolen. But the crime is not unstoppable. Thieves can be easily discouraged from stealing your car. How? Follow these tips, based on the National Insurance Crime Bureau, to make your car a tough steal.
First, a little common sense. Never leave your car running or unlocked. Also remember to close your windows. These mistakes make your car a giant target.
Do not leave spare keys or valuables in your car. Try not to have your registration in the car.
At night, park in a well-lit area; most car thefts happen at night. Park towards the curb, not with your wheels facing the road. Also remember to use the emergency brake.
Say you're leaving town for a while. Ask your mechanic where your ignition fuse is, and then remove it before you leave. This way your car will not start in case someone tries to steal it.
There are a lot of protection devices out there, such as alarms, wheel locks, V.I.N. etching, etc. Use them! For a rundown on these devices, go to heatreward.com.
A lot of car thieves hot-wire vehicles to steal them. How to prevent this? Use a vehicle immobilizer, such as a smart key, kill switch or ignition disabler. These make hot-wiring impossible.
What if your car is stolen?
The best way to find a stolen car is to use a tracking system, which sends a signal to the police.
Report the incident ASAP. You will need to know your model, year, make, license plate number, vehicle identification number, and identifying marks.
For instructions on how to make an insurance claim and examples of stolen vehicle claim details, go to GEICO.
Keep in mind that car thieves don't like noise, attention or obstacles. So protect your car and keep your peace of mind. Assess your risk factor - Add more protection devices in higher risk areas or if your car model is popular among thieves. How does your city rank in car theft dangers? Check at the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Is your car one of the top stolen vehicles? Check NICB again and find out. Remember, it's better to prevent than to lament.
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