How to prevent car theft

You may think it could never happen to you, but on the road ahead there's every chance you could find yourself the victim of a car theft or even carjacking. Here's how to put the brakes on being victimized.

Preventing Car Theft

A thief's greatest enemy is time. The more difficult your car is to steal, the longer it takes to be stolen. The longer it takes, the more likely the thief will move on to an easier target. Here are nine ways to frustrate car thieves:

Always lock your car. Lock it whenever you leave it - in your driveway, at the grocery store, etc. Conceal everything possible. Why provide temptation? Always turn off your engine and take your keys with you during "quick stops" at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, dry cleaners, etc.

Park with the wheels turned toward the curb. Turn them even when parking in driveways and parking lots. This makes your vehicle difficult to tow. Keep your vehicle registration in your purse or wallet and file your title at home. If a thief has these two documents, your car will be easier to sell.

Keep your keys with you. Professional thieves know all possible hiding places inside your car! Garage your car whenever possible, both at home and at work.

Use a "valet" key (one that operates the ignition and doors only) if your car offers one. This limits access to items you store in the glove compartment or trunk, provided your car has a secured trunk release . Close all windows, lock all doors and take the keys with you. One out of four stolen cars has its keys inside.

Park in well-lighted areas. More than 50 percent of vehicle thefts occur at night. Park in attended lots. Thieves don't like witnesses. Put all packages and personal items out of sight. Items left in the open make your vehicle a more desirable target.

Detecting Car Thieves In The Act

Your best line of defense - installing an anti-theft system - could save your car and your pocketbook. Just having an anti-theft device to help stop thieves in their tracks may qualify for discounts of 5-15% on your comprehensive premium (in your policy called Other Than Collision coverage). But before you buy, ask your Fireman's Fund representative for details, and consider your options:

With "active" alarm and disabling systems, you arm your car by pushing a button or flipping a switch. When armed, active alarm systems help alert break-ins with bells, whistles or sirens. Active disabling systems disable the fuel or starting system so your car stays put.

With "passive" disabling systems, you do nothing special - these systems arm automatically as you remove the key. This makes them very effective and they qualify for higher discounts.

With vehicle recovery systems, a device in the car helps "track" its location. In an active vehicle recovery system, it's up to you to call the service that tracks your car - but time that lapses is time thieves have to strip your car to pieces! Passive vehicle recovery systems track immediately, so they qualify for higher discounts.

"We recommend our clients install a vehicle recovery system due to their success rate," notes Craig A. Edwards of Rancho Sante Fe Insurance & Financial Services in California. "However, we find that the best deterrent to thieves is keeping valuables out of clear sight."

Safeguarding Against Carjackers

Use the remote entry device if your car has one. Lock your doors when you drive - always, day or night.

Park only in well lit, open areas so you don't give carjackers opportunity to hide!

Curious about which cars thieves love to steal?

Ask for "Injury Collision and Theft Loss by Make and Model," a free report from the Highway Loss Data Institute. Write 1005 North Glebe Road, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22201; phone 703.247.1600; fax 703.247.1595; or surf www.carsafety.org and select the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety link.

Summary

Regardless of which technology, if any, you choose, experts maintain that the best deterrent to thieves is keeping valuables out of clear sight.

Request a no-obligation Auto Insurance quote now.

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