Whether the economy is good or bad, nothing changes the fact that
losing a car, truck, SUV, hybrid or electric vehicle due to auto theft is an
expensive loss. Experts, including the FBI, estimate that annual U.S. vehicle
thefts are from 750,000 to well over a million per year. Costs caused by these
thefts are calculated anywhere from 4 to 8 billion dollars and thefts are, by
and large, performed by professionals. With such high financial stakes, vehicle
manufacturers continue to introduce increasingly effective anti-theft devices.
Alarms installed in many vehicles are commonly set off when
sensors detect attempts to gain access to a vehicle’s doors, hood, trunk or
windows. Loud horns accompanied by flashing vehicle lights are a great
deterrent to many thieves. Silent alarms which notify vehicle owners of theft
attempts via smart phones are also in use. They are less effective as
deterrents but are more effective in assisting in capturing criminals.
Besides alarms, a variety of other devices, varying in complexity
and expense, are available to protect a vehicle such as:
- Electronic (coded) Keys
- Electronic Tracking Devices
- Floorboard/Crook Locks
- Gearshift Locks
- Hood Locks
- Kill Switches (fuel or ignition)
- Steering Column Armored Collars
- Steering Wheel Lock
- Theft-Deterrent Decals
- Tire/Wheel Locks
- Trunk Locks
- VIN Etching
Another development is the tracking capability of on-line
monitoring services that can assist in locating and, in some instances,
disabling vehicles to aid recovery. Please see part 2 of this article on
actions that vehicle owners can take to reduce the chance of vehicle theft.
Auto Theft Loss
Prevention - Part 2
Another trend regarding auto thefts is that, while auto theft
continues to be a major problem, the theft of newer model cars has decreased
due to modern anti-theft devices, especially when more than one type of device
is used. However, the most effective tool continues to be simple loss
prevention and common sense.
Part one of this
discussion mentioned that most of thefts are due to professional thieves.
However, a significant number are also performed by amateurs, specifically joy
riders. Therefore, it's important for vehicle owners to embrace practices that
deter both types of thieves.
Thieves look for two
things when going about their work: One: attractive reasons to steal and two:
easy targets. Vehicles that are often stolen are those with one of the
following attributes:
- An owner has left valuable property in the open that is
easily seen by potential thieves
- The car is in a location with higher than average theft
losses
- The car is a model that is sought for its desirability
(exotic or luxury models)
- The vehicle is a target as it is a popular source for
parts
- A car has been left running and/or unattended
While shamefully
obvious, the general, vehicle-owning public still needs education on basic loss
prevention.
Chances for auto theft
can be substantially reduced by some incredibly simple behavior:
- Lock your car
- Hide valuables (such as placing them in a car’s trunk)
- Never leave a vehicle running and unattended
- Be wary of staged accidents - if suspicious, stay in
vehicle and summon police
- Avoid known high crime areas while driving
- Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it
doesn’t have one and make it obvious that the vehicle includes a system
- Park vehicles, whenever possible, it in a well-lit area
- Have your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN)
etched on each of the windows
Whether you own a new car or old, a luxury car or a generic model,
there are people with plenty of incentive who want to steal it…..practice basic loss prevention and minimize your chances
of being an auto theft victim.
COPYRIGHT: Insurance Publishing Plus, Inc. 2018
All rights reserved. Production or distribution, whether in whole
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