It’s All About Big $$$

In the United States, two vehicles are stolen every minute.  Motor vehicle theft is no longer a crime committed by teenagers simply out for a joyride.  It’s big business often run by organized crime rings out to make big profits at your expense! 

Although more than half (62%) of stolen vehicles are found, sometimes with severe damage, the remaining vehicles end up in the hands of organized criminals and end up going in one of three places:

• Shipped overseas and sold on the black market
• Stripped at a chop shop, with its parts sold to body shop operators who then sell the parts or install them on other vehicles
• Resold to an unsuspecting consumer

Which Would You Choose?

Which car do you think would be more tempting for a car thief? A brand new Honda Civic with a navigation system, XM satellite radio and heated leather seats or one that is 13 years old with fabric seats and been driven over 150,000 miles?  Surprisingly, the thief wants the old car.

At least that’s the word from the “Hot Wheels 2008″ auto theft report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau  (NCIB) that ranks the most stolen vehicles in 2007. At the top of the list is the 1995 Honda Civic followed by the 1991 Honda Accord. This is the fourth year in a row that the ’95 Civic has been in the top 10.

The top 10 most stolen cars in 2007:

Oldies but goodies!  Why are the oldies such goodies in the eyes of car thieves?

They’re full of replacement parts such as catalytic converters. Hondas are especially wanted since Honda engine components fit other Honda car models. That is, parts from a Civic will also fit an Accord.  We see a large amount of older Hondas and Toyotas on the road because they’re so reliable which is a good thing.  Unfortunately, this makes them a bigger target.

A Few Simple Steps  Could Save You a Major Headache!

The NCIB encourages everyone to follow what it calls a “layered approach” to auto theft protection.   The four layers are:

Layer #1 – Common Sense: The common sense approach to protection is the easiest and most cost-effective way to protect your vehicle. You should always:

• Remove keys from ignition
• Lock doors/close windows
• Park in well-lit areas

Layer #2 – Warning Device: The second layer of protection is using visible or audible devices to warn thieves that your vehicle is protected. A few examples are:

• Audible alarms
• Steering column collars
• Steering wheel/Brake pedal lock
• Brake locks
• Wheel locks
• Tire locks/Tire deflators
• Theft deterrent decals
• Identification markers in or on vehicle

 Layer #3 – Immobilizing Device: The third layer of protection is using a device to prevent thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle.  Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated.  Popular devices include:

• Smart keys
• Fuse cut-offs
• Kill switches
• Starter, ignition and fuel disablers
• Wireless, ignition authentication

Layer # 4 – Tracking Device: The final layer of protection is a tracking device that emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen.  Tracking devices are extremely effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.

Common sense and awareness coupled with a few simple steps can save you a great deal of frustration while making a car thief’s life a little more difficult.