Choose the Best Anti Theft Devices to Protect Your Car

Nothing guarantees your car won't be stolen, but you can improve your odds without spending a fortune. There are a variety of car security options available to protect your beloved automobile.

Steps

  1. Try a mechanical immobilizer. These are the least expensive car anti-theft devices, designed to restrict access to or movement of the vehicle. The biggest advantage of mechanical immobilizers is their highly visual appearance, which should ward off amateur car thieves, but not the pros. Police authorities recommend including one of these in conjunction with other anti-theft devices.
    • Steering-Wheel Lock: “The Club” is the most popular steering wheel lock, and the least expensive anti-theft option. This device goes over the steering wheel and locks it in place, so no one can drive it until they remove the lock. Price Range: Low End: $25, High End: $100
    • Hood Lock: This device will block access to the battery and deter thieves who sell cars off for parts. Price Range: Low End: $20, High End: $50
    • Tire Lock: These deterrents are highly visible and hard to get off. (Again, I know you’ve seen car "boots" used by law enforcement on illegally parked cars on the “Parking Wars” TV show.) Since tire locks take time and effort to attach and remove, these would not be my first choice for your daily driver vehicle. Price Range: Low End: $80, High End: $200
    • Other Car Anti-Theft Options: Gearshift locks, ignition/steering wheel column and crook locks, gear shifter locks and brake pedal locks.
  2. Consider an electronic immobilizer. Many modern vehicles come standard with car keys and fobs that protect their cars via electronic immobilizers. These built-in transponders or microchips send signals to the anti-theft system, which then send a signal that it's ok to start the car. When anyone attempts to use the car without these signals, the car will not start. Car thieves often avoid cars with electronic immobilizers.
  3. Install a "Kill Switch." This anti-theft device can be activated to shut down part of the engine's electrical system. (You may have seen them used in “bait cars” on the “COPS” TV show.) Some cars have them built in, and they are pretty easy to install. Price Range: Low End: $10, High End: $200
    • A popular model is the Master Lock Starter Sentry, which kills the fuel or ignition system via a wireless transmitter.
    • Other ignition kill switches are activated the moment a car is locked and cannot be deactivated until a series of tasks are completed (i.e., unlocking the car, pressing the gas pedal once, buckling your seat belt, etc.).
    • Always check your car's warranty first, because some don’t allow installation, and remember to hide the Kill Switch, so a thief won’t see and disable it.
  4. Invest in a car alarm. These are the most visually effective anti-theft devices. Sometimes drawing a potential thief’s attention to the fact that your car has an alarm system is enough to deter them. So, be sure to put a sticker in the window, on both sides, proudly proclaiming you have a car security system activated. Car alarms feature electronic sensors designed to activate when a vehicle is breached: unauthorized entry, breaking of glass, sudden movement, and perimeter violations. When a threat is detected by the sensors, a siren activates (at over 120 dBs), alerting the car’s driver and everyone else within earshot. Price Range: Low End: $150, High End: $1,000
    • Be wary of older, cheaper car alarms, flexible-circuit alarms, and single-stage sirens, which are too easily triggered, and may come at the expense of your neighbors' friendship.
    • Always hook your car alarm up to a backup battery and/or invest in a hood lock. Many car thieves know how to unplug a car alarm’s battery, which will silence it.
    • Even if you don't have a car alarm, you can buy & apply stickers proclaiming your vehicle is protected by an alarm. The thought of a security system should make any thief choose another victim!
  5. Try VIN Etching. Every vehicle has a unique, 17-digit serial number assigned to it called the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. The VIN will be on the car’s title, on the dashboard (driver-side), and on your insurance and registration cards. You can “brand” your car’s parts by etching it’s VIN number on all windows and all important parts. Doing this serves as both a tracking device and a theft deterrent. Most car thieves steer clear of etched vehicles because of the expense in replacing and disposing of VIN-coded glass. Price Range: DIY kits sell for $20, or you can hire a professional to do this for you.
  6. Install a vehicle tracking system. This is the “Cadillac” of auto theft protection, so be prepared to pay top dollar. Electronic tracking devices offer a real-time location of the stolen vehicle using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). These are sold with service contracts, and have a reputation for relocating many vehicles a mere hour after they have been stolen. Price Range: Low End: $295, High End: $1395 (for car alarm & tracking system)
    • The two biggest companies are LoJack and OnStar. LoJack features a hidden transmitter in the car, which is activated once a theft is reported. This company works directly with law enforcement, and boasts a 90 percent return rate on stolen vehicles. OnStar offers a similar system, which comes standard on all new model cars from GM, Acura, Audi, Isuzu and Volkswagen.



Tips

  • Before you booby trap your truck, here are some factors you should consider: How much are you willing to invest in car security? Figure out your price limit.
  • How safe is your neighborhood? Cities have a higher crime rate than more suburban areas. City dwellers may choose to have more auto security. NOTE: Port cities and those along the southern border are also at a higher risk for car theft.
  • How expensive is your car? You might think newer cars look more tempting to thieves, but not necessarily so. Newer models typically have more security, so they carry a higher risk of getting caught. Older cars usually do not have security features, so they can be quickly and easily dismantled to be sold for parts. The parts of a vehicle, when sold separately, can be worth up to three times the price of the car when sold as a whole. (Texas Theft Prevention Authority).
  • The cheapest and most effective car anti-theft device is...your brain. Try to park in well lit areas, or parking lots with attendants. Don't leave your valuables in plain sight: GPS, CD player, shopping bags, purse, wallet, Iphone, Ipod, etc. Keep a thin blanket in your trunk, and use it to cover shopping bags in your car. Never ever leave your keys in the ignition when you leave your car...not even for a quick pop into the gas station. (*Yes, people actually DO this, and it is how many cars get stolen.) The more security you have installed, the less appealing your car will be...to a thief. In addition, some security measures will lower your car insurance premium by 15% to 36%. So, think of it as an investment! I’ve broken down the most popular car anti-theft devices into 3 categories: “Mechanical Immobilizers,” “Electrical Immobilizers” and “Vehicle Tracking.”

Warnings

  • LoJack says auto theft is on the rise again in some cities, with some $5.2 billion in lost assets.
  • Do you feel lucky? Do you think you own a car that is “not worth stealing?" FACT: A car is stolen every 26 seconds in the US (FBI's 2007 Crime Reports). Nothing guarantees your car won't be robbed, but you can improve your odds without spending a fortune. Luckily for you, there are a variety of car security options available to protect our beloved automobiles. As more Americans equipped their cars with anti-theft devices, the auto theft rate dropped 12.6% from 2007-2008 in the US.

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