Automobile Theft

One car is stolen every nineteen to twenty-one seconds in the United States. That's less time than it takes most people to unlock their car, put on their seat belt and start the engine.

If auto theft was a legitimate business in the United States, it would rank 50th among the Fortune 500 companies (Motor Trend, January, 1991). The cost to consumers in terms of insurance premiums, out-of-pocket repair costs, and new car costs has increased 134 percent since 1970, from $3.2 billion to $7.5 billion. This is due to the increased price of new vehicles, and the fact fewer stolen cars are recovered; 62 percent today compared with 84 percent in 1970. Unfortunately, if your car isn't found within one week, the chances of recovering it intact is almost nil. In 1994, 31% of recovered stolen vehicles were completely stripped at chop shops, and another 31% were stripped of accessories such as radios, air bags, and seats. In 1970, only 25% of vehicles were stolen for parts, resale, or for use in another crime (Consumers Research Magazine, 10-01-95).

Car thieves no longer tend to be young joyriders. Increasingly, they are involved in professional rings operating parts-stripping and reselling scams, usually global in scope. Chop shops can strip a stolen car in less than thirty minutes. The parts are then sold to repair and body shops, netting the thieves two to four times the price of the whole car. Many of these parts don't carry the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and can no longer be identified. Older cars are not exempt; as cars age, their parts become more valuable. Air bags are latest hot item for car thieves. Thieves will receive between $100 to $600 per air bag, which the body shop will then install for a cost of around $1,500. Ultimately, this scam causes higher auto insurance premium rates.

One of the more sophisticated scams is the "strip and run". A vehicle is stolen, stripped for parts, and the frame is abandoned. When it is eventually recovered by the police, the case is cleared, and the frame sold at an insurance or police auction. The thieves buy the frame, reattach the parts, and now have a vehicle that is not stolen.

Another scam is the "salvage switch." An extensively damaged, burned or stripped or otherwise irreparable car is bought from the salvage yard for its title and VIN. A car of similar make and model is stolen, and the VIN plate is switched. The car can then be rebuilt and sold to an unsuspecting buyer.

How to Protect Your Car from Theft

O.K., let's get the bad news out of the way first. If a thief is determined to get in your car, they will.

Period.

Now, the better news. Some simple, easily taken steps may be all you'll need to frustrate a thief. The object is to make your car less inviting to a potential car thief or burglar. Time is of the essence to a thief, so anything that will slow them down is a potential deterrent.

Lock your car when you leave

Pretty basic, right? According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), 31% of owners don't lock their doors, and 11% admit they sometimes leave their keys in the ignition. Three-quarters of the vehicles stolen last year were left unlocked. Each time you leave your car, close all the windows and lock all the doors. Don't, under any circumstances, leave the keys in an unattended car. This includes keeping a spare key hidden somewhere on the car. A determined thief will know all the hiding places.

Park where you can find it again

Parking your car away from the other vehicles in the lot will protect your car from door dings. But it also provides the thief with the solitude and time to steal your car. Try to park in a populated, well-lighted and well-traveled area. When possible, park your car in a locked, patrolled or otherwise secured parking garage or parking lot. Remember to always lock your own garage door. Not only will that protect your car, it also may protect the contents of your home. When parking on a street, leave the front wheels pointed sharply toward the curb and the emergency brake set to discourage towing.

Don't broadcast the contents of your car

You may not be able to remove the cellular phone antenna, but you can hide other type of valuables. Place your belongings in your locked trunk, glove compartment, or under the front seats. Most hatchbacks and station wagons have roll-up security covers for the cargo area; get in the habit of parking with the cover in place. Make sure your car has a way of locking the remote trunk release from the inside, otherwise, you might want to reconsider placing your valuables in the trunk!

Theft Prevention Devices

Alarms: There is no statistical evidence that alarms reduce auto theft. After so may false alarms, people just stop paying attention. Any serious antitheft device must do more than make noise.

Kill Switches: A kill switch is a simple toggle device that shuts off the engine's ignition system. A risk is that they may be accidentally engaged by the driver, or if they are improperly installed, damage the electrical system of the car. Cost: $10 to $125.

Steering Wheel Locks: Steering wheel locks are visible from outside the car and prevent the wheel from being turned more than a few degrees.

Steering Column Collars: Collars prevent the steering column from being broken into in order to hot-wire the vehicle. Some are installed permanently and others must be installed manually each time the driver leaves the vehicle. Cost: $100 to $200, installed.

Wheel Locks: Similar to the circular steel "boots" used by police departments, these locks make the car nearly impossible to move. Cost: $80 to $200.

Etching Parts: The vehicle identification number etched into the windows or other parts deters the sale to chop shops, etc. Cost: $20 to $100.

Antitheft Systems: These are complete systems that may include all of the above mentioned items. A beeper can alert the owner when the system is tripped. These combinations are the most effective deterrents when combined with window etching. Cost: $300 and up.

All the money spent on antitheft devices doesn't help if drivers don't follow the basic precaution of locking doors, taking the key, and activating or installing any antitheft devices they have purchased.