Vehicle Theft Prevention Tips
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) 2013 Uniform Crime Report advises that 699,594 motor vehicles were stolen in 2013. That equates to a motor vehicle being stolen every 45 seconds in the United States. The report also states that, in 2013, the total value of stolen motor vehicles was over $4.1 billion, with the average motor vehicle value being $5,972.
The top ten states for vehicle thefts in 2013 were: (1) California; (2) Texas; (3) Florida; (4) Washington; (5) Georgia; (6) Michigan; (7) Illinois; (8) Ohio; (9) Arizona; and (10) Missouri. According to CNN Money the top ten most frequently stolen passenger vehicles in 2013 were: (1) Honda Accord; (2) Honda Civic; (3) Chevrolet Pickup; (4) Ford Pickup; (5) Toyota Camry; (6) Dodge Pickup; (7) 2000 Dodge Caravan; (8) Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee; (9) Toyota Corolla; and (10) Nissan Altima.
The following information can help you avoid becoming a victim of vehicle theft.
- Keep your guard up. You don’t have to own a new, expensive top-of-the-line vehicle to be a victim of vehicle theft.
- If you have a garage, use it. Park your car inside your garage as much as possible and lock the doors to both your garage and the vehicles inside.
- Don’t leave your car running and unattended, even to dash into a store or business for just a minute. Not only is it not safe, it’s also illegal.
- Don’t leave keys in the ignition or in a “hide-away” box concealed on the vehicle.
- Close the windows completely and lock the doors when parking the vehicle.
- Replace “T-shaped” vehicle door locks with straight or tapered door locks so car thieves can’t grab and unlock them with tools/implements.
- Don’t leave items of value in plain view.
- Park in high-traffic, well-lighted areas.
- When parking your car, turn the wheels toward the curb and set the emergency brake to make it more difficult for a thief to “tow” your car away.
- Install a device that locks the steering wheel, steering column or brakes.
- Install an anti-theft alarm system.
- Install a concealed ignition or fuel “kill switch” that prevents your vehicle from being started.
- Do not keep the title to your vehicle inside the vehicle.
- Be alert for people who are lingering or casually walking around a parking lot.
- Be proactive and watch out for the other person. If you see something or someone suspicious, call the police immediately.
Remember, time is a car thief’s worst enemy. The longer it will take a car thief to enter and steal your vehicle, the more likely it is that the thief will bypass your vehicle and look for an easier target.
