While it might seem too obvious to mention, always lock your doors when
parked, and NEVER leave the ignition running while you dash quickly into the local corner
store.
Keep all valuables out of sight within the car. Something of value visible
to a thief will tempt him to break in to your car, which may then lead to its being stolen
as well.
If you own two vehicles, block the "high risk" vehicle in your
driveway from behind with the other, or better yet, keep it out of sight inside the garage
If your vehicle is a high risk model (Dodge Shadow, Honda Accord, Dodge or
Plymouth Caravan, Jeep Cherokee or virtually any sport/utility vehicle), it is mandatory
that you take extra precautions. As a minimum, I would consider use of the proper model of
steering wheel "club", especially when parked in high risk areas such as
shopping centres, or (as in my case) even your own driveway. (Use a truck version of the
club for vans not the shorter automobile version !!) Remember, minivans and expensive
luxury cars are the choice of professional thieves as well, who sell these in the
developing countries for three times their Canadian purchase price. Heavy security can go
a long way to discouraging professionals as well as the kids (in spite of what some people
say who should know better)
You may wish to consider installation of a vehicle alarm system,
especially for high risk vehicles. Here the advice is the same as for homes - have it done
professionally !! The best systems activate the horn, and disable the starter.
Personally, I now prefer the "passive" devices which (speaking from personal
experience), you can’t forget to turn on, which require some form of "chip"
to be inserted into a special socket in the dash before the car will start. (Several good
ones I am personally familiar with are put out under the name of ProLock
(now out of business) and
Otomax). Be
sure that whatever system you purchase comes with warning stickers and a blinking LED
light to warn off potential thieves BEFORE they break the door locks. Also, when having
any professional system installed, insist they put any master kill switch on a key lock in
the dash, rather than simply hiding the toggle on/off switch somewhere in the dash area,
where it can be easily discovered, and your system disabled. A lot of the newer, high-end
professional systems are activated remotely via a transmitter carried with your keys.These
systems come with a variety of additional options too numerous to mention, and vary in
price from $199 to $600 installed. They are the option of choice for more expensive
vehicles, leased vehicles, or ones you plan to own for a few years. Once purchased, they
can be removed and reinstalled in a newer vehicle for a reasonable fee. Many also carry a
lifetime guarantee.
A simple ignition kill switch installed somewhere in the car by your
mechanic will also discourage theft when your car is parked. One insurance company is
currently offering insurance discounts when such an arrangement is installed in your car
(approximate cost $70 if you can't install it yourself). Talk to your dealer on this one.
Remember, all thieves are discouraged when they meet unexpected, uncommon
"custom" precautionary measures that they have not previously encountered. So be
original !!!
Retailers such as Walmart, and Price Club (to name only two), have
perfectly usable non professional systems from $100 to $200, which are exceedingly easy to
install. These contain "remote" units for activation and de-activation of the
system. For anyone "handy", these are probably your best buy. They also have the
added advantage of being easy to transfer between vehicles (Do-it-yourselfers should check
with a mechanic to determine which wires to route to the alarm, since it is possible to
damage some modern electronic ignition modules with an incorrect hookup arrangement). Electronic
alarms offer their best protection when used in areas where the alarm sounding is likely
to solicit some direct response by people (ie: your own driveway versus the parking
lot of a large shopping plaza where a car alarm is largely ignored). So physical locking
devices, even though they can be defeated, are still important because they increase the
time and exposure involved in stealing the vehicle.
When you are asking yourself whether it’s worth doing the numerous
things I have mentioned above, remember "there’s no free lunch". Insurance
companies are plagued with the growing and costly problem of home burglaries and auto
theft, and these costs ultimately get passed along to everyone through higher insurance
premiums. If we all collectively work together - insurance agents, police, individual
homeowners, Neighbourhood Watch captains, and all those in the security and real estate
business - we can make our communities a safer and more secure environment in which to
live.
