Avoiding Vehicle Theft

Although a vehicle is stolen every 27 seconds in the United States and more than 1 million vehicles will be stolen this year, your car doesn't have to be one of them. Professional thieves like their unsavory task to be quick and easy, and if you take some precautions, you will be ahead of others who make no effort to protect themselves.

As you know, the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance policy covers theft, and because your insurance company bases its premiums in part on the likelihood of your car being stolen, cars that have a high theft rate are usually more expensive to insure.

Here are some points to remember for protecting your car:

• Keep your car door locked at all times.

• Install an antitheft device if you don't already have one.

• Always park your car inside the garage if you have one. Lock the garage door and the car.

• At night, park your car in a safe, well-lit, or well-traveled area.

• Never store anything of value in plain sight.

• Have the vehicle identification number (VIN) etched into the windows and major parts of your car to make it harder to resell on the black market.

• If you park on the street, turn your wheels toward the curb until they lock, use the emergency brake, and try to park between other cars. (This will make it harder for a thief to tow it away.)

• Avoid parking your vehicle in a long-term parking lot.

• Remove any portable electronic devices (such as an iPod) when you leave your car.

Antitheft Devices

Currently, 12 states require insurance companies to give discounts to car owners who install antitheft devices―but if you live in a state where antitheft discounts aren't required, your insurer will probably offer them anyway. Generally, these discounts are higher for automatic antitheft devices (such as passive-setting alarms).

Since many types of antitheft devices are on the market, it won't be hard to find one that fits your budget and suits your needs. They include:

• Car alarms

• Immobilizers

• Steering wheel locks

• Glass sensors

• Fuel-kill switches

• Ignition-kill switches

• Radio receivers and transmitters

Make sure that the antitheft device you plan to use is installed properly, or you may risk damaging the device or even your car's electrical system. If you need to, enlist the services of an alarm installation professional to do the work for you.

Protective Habits

Take the following precautions in order to protect your car at home. It may seem paranoid―but that's how you thwart thieves:

• If you warm your car up in the winter (a dubious plan that's actually hard on the engine), let it run while locked and use a second set of keys to open the door.

• When you leave a rear-wheel-drive car in the driveway, back it in, and do just the opposite with a front-wheel-drive car. (This makes it more difficult for the thieves who like to tow cars away.)

• Install a motion-activated floodlight that illuminates the area where your car is parked.

Do this when you are away from home:

• Close up the car completely, lock it, and take your keys with you. Do not leave an unlocked car with the engine running, especially if there is a child or pet on board. You should take someone responsible with you on those errands that "will only take a minute while I run inside," or use drive-through businesses when you are pressed for time.

• Lock everything in the trunk when you pack your car, and always assume that "interested parties" may be watching.

• If your vehicle is full of visible luggage or other items, cover it all with a "disappearing cloth" (a throw of matte black material such as felt spread smoothly over the car's contents). This is a great preventive measure.

• If your vehicle is often loaded (for traveling or business), install some dark film on your windows. (You will need to refer to your state's laws for permitted density and other restrictions that may apply.)

• Avoid leaving a set of spare keys "hidden" in your car (above the visor, under the mat, or in the ashtray is in plain sight to a thief).

• Do not "hide" spare keys outside or under your car in magnetic or Velcro-type holders.

• A well-attended parking lot is the best choice for a parking space. At night, try to park near the lighted entry of a restaurant, not in back. Choose a window table overlooking your parking spot so that you can see what is happening while you eat.