How Secure is Your Car From Theft?

By Teresa Ambord

The fate of your car is a mix of factors including the type of car, your hometown, your habits, and a little bit of chance.

The ten most frequently stolen cars in 2003 were:

 1.  2000 Honda Civic
 2.  1989 Toyota Camry
 3.  1991 Honda Accord
 4.  1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup
 5.  1994 Dodge Caravan
 6.  1997 Ford F150 Series
 7.  1986 Toyota Pickup
 8.  1995 Acura Integra
 9.  1987 Nissan Sentra
10. 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau

Click here to see what the top ten stolen vehicles are in your state:

And the ten cities where most cars are stolen are:

 1.  Modesto, CA
 2.  Phoenix, AZ
 3.  Stockton-Lodi, CA
 4.  Las Vegas, NV
 5.  Sacramento, CA
 6.  Fresno, CA
 7.  Oakland, CA
 8.  Miami, FL
 9.  San Diego, CA
10. Detroit, MI

*Note, six of the top ten car-theft cities are in California.

Not only will good safety practices and devices add peace of mind, they might also put money in your pocket.   In fourteen states, insurers are required to give car owners discounts of 15 to 30 percent off their comprehensive insurance bills for having anti-theft devices.  Some devices — such as certain alarms, electronic auto recovery systems, and ignition cutoffs may qualify for up to 30 percent off the entire insurance bill.

Here are the states where this law is currently in affect, according to the National Assoication of Insurance Commissioners.

  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Texas
  • Washington

Experts will tell you, auto security is a four-layer process:

First Layer: Common Sense

Common sense is your best defense. This may seem obvious, but incredibly 20 percent of cars stolen had the keys in the ignition, according to AAA.

  • Don’t leave the car running unattended, even in your driveway.
  • Don’t hide keys. Thieves know where to look.
  • Lock the car.  Close the windows.
  • Keep the registration in your wallet, not in the glove box.  Keep a copy at home.
  • Put personal property, such as cell phones, out of sight.
  • Park in well-lit areas.

Second Layer: Audible and Visible Warnings

The obvious audible device is an alarm, which, oddly enough, includes silent alarms.  If you’re on one of the high-risk areas listed in article one, you should buy the best alarm you can afford.   Then advertise it by placing stickers on your car.  But stay away from no-name and noisemaker alarms.  According to Rich Brown, owner of Steele Audio in Redding, California these systems offer no security. It’s better, Brown says, to stick with the larger manufacturers. When asked what he recommends, Brown says he’s had the best luck with the Audiovox Prestige Platinum APS 996a.   It not only provides excellent security, keyless remote, but also allows you to remote start your vehicle, and comes with a 2 way pager that alerts you if someone is tampering with your car.   This is top of the line, but,  he says, if you are on a tight budget, Audivox also makes some excellent lower priced systems that run around $150.   He adds that another good, affordable choice is DEI.  One more point about car alarms:  Brown points out that the system is only as good as the installation.  Whatever alarm you buy, get it installed by an experienced technician who is familiar with the system, and with your model of car.

Visible methods of protection include these:

  • Tapered door locks which make it hard, if not impossible for thieves to unlock the door with a coat hanger.
  • Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) etched, or written on all windows and major car parts, which make tracing the car easier.  A do-it-yourself kit starts around $20.
  • You’ve heard of the Club, a steering wheel lock which has been around for a couple of decades.
  • There’s also a device called the Wrap, which also locks the steering wheel.
  • Another device is an ignition and steering-column collar, also called a “cuff lock,” a steel shield which locks over the steering column, making the ignition inaccessible.
  • A cane-shaped lock that secures the steering wheel to the brake pedal, making them immobile.

Third Layer: Immobilizing Devices

Devices that immobilize the car make up the third layer.  Immobilizing devices include kill switches that prevent hot-wiring, fuse cutoffs, and starter disablers.   If a thief wants to steal such a vehicle, he would probably have to haul it away on a truck.

Fourth Layer: Tracking Device

The final layer of protection is a tracking device, such as OnStar, available in most GM cars and several others, like Volkswagen and Acura.

LoJack. is another tracking device, which helps police find stolen cars.  It consists of a transmitter that’s about 3 inches by 6 inches, and can be installed in any one of 20 spots in a car.  That way thieves do not know its location.   The LoJack is not active until a car is stolen and the police activate it by remote control. The Insurance Information Institute (III) says that LoJack offers a 90 percent recovery rate, but it is only available in 22 states and the District of Columbia.    LoJack and Onstar recommend that if you have such a system installed, you advertise the fact by putting decals on your car’s outside, which may serve to keep thieves away.   Both tracking systems install for about $700.

Log onto OnStar and find out details. You can also find out if your car is equipped for OnStar.

or, log onto LoJack.com and find out more about this system:

Sources: