You’ve invested in an attractive reliable car. But lately you’ve heard about some car thefts and break-ins in your neighborhood and you’re wondering what you can do to protect your investment. We’ll look at a few different theft scenarios and suggest some protection strategies that make sense and fit your budget.
Let’s start with the ordinary “smash and grab” type of theft, where the thief smashes your window and steals personal in your vehicle. Since this is a “crime of opportunity,” you can prevent them by removing valuable items. That includes CDs, loose change, and especially expensive audio gear and GPS receivers—anything that can be “fenced” for even a few bucks (GPS receivers are high on thieves’ shopping lists these days).
Pay attention to the “tell-tale” signs of automotive electronics ownership. For example, a suction cup or the suction cup “ring” on your windshield tells thieves you’ve got a GPS. They know you probably stashed it in your glove box, under a seat, or in the console. e. So unless you want to lose your investment in your GPS and deal with the hassle of broken glass, take the receiver, power cable, and the mounting bracket with you. Wipe the window to remove traces of the suction cup. The same advice holds true for laptop computers and PDAs.
Grand Theft Auto
Now let’s talk about losing the entire vehicle to car thieves. This is where you get the lecture on the risks of leaving your keys in your car. You already know you shouldn’t do that. So don’t. The same advice goes for leaving a spare key in a “hidden” place on your vehicle. Crooks know all the hiding places.
Your next line of defense includes some kind of theft prevention system. The list includes lockout devices, VIN etching, alarms, and vehicle locators.
Lockout devices fall into two categories—physical and electronic. Steering wheel locks like the CLUB or the WRAP fit onto your steering wheel and restrict wheel rotation. They provide a physical and visual deterrent to amateur and semi-professional thieves. Tire and wheel locks are also in this group. They snap onto one wheel and prevent vehicle movement. Wheel locks provide the advantage of visual deterrence from a distance—their bright yellow color and heavy duty construction screams “extra work required to steal this baby!” Each of these mechanical lockout devices work fairly well against most amateurs and semi-pros. Just be aware that professional crooks can remove them in an instant.