Automobile theft is rampant across the country, but there are many ways you will be able to prevent it, if you just take the time to think. You can always try to pick areas of the country that are less appealing to the car thief, but good luck trying to figure that out. You could take all your life moving around finding that "perfect neighborhood".
You can't control the drug addict who is after your car for the parts he can steal to sell on the market, but you can make your car less appealing to them. Don't leave items in your car that have a known street value such as ipods, GPS units, cell phones, and CD's. if the robber can't see anything to take that is worth anything, they will move on to another target.
Lock your car doors. I know it may sound basic, but you can't imagine the amount of cars that get stolen that weren't even locked to begin with. That is just screaming for someone to take it away from you. If your doors are locked, it is more work for the thief. If they have to take the time to break the window to get in, it will deter them.
Add a panic alarm, or full car alarm. If the thief breaks the window and the alarm activates, they are more apt to run without stealing the car. They have now drawn attention to themselves and don't want to get caught. They will move along to an easier target.
And finally there is an even more advanced option; the kill switch. The thief will take the car and think they are getting away, but then the engine dies. The car is equipped with the ability to stall if the car is driven by someone other than the known owner. I know that most Saab's are equipped with this option.
To go along with the kill switch option comes the tracker. It has many different names, but its main function is to allow the authorites to track where the stolen car goes. If the theif thinks he is getting away by hopping on the interstate, they get a rude awakening when the police show up hot on their tail to pull them over and arrest them.
Finally, I would like to offer up one more option that should be common sense, but unfortunately is not. Park in an area where the car is out in the open. Don't park in an abandoned lot. If you are in a parking lot within sight of many other cars, there is a much better chance that a potential robber will not risk being caught.
And remember if you are walking in a parking lot and see someone who looks like they may be scoping out the place, do not be afraid to report it. Don't automatically assume that someone else will tell, or you decide you don't want to be involved. You never know when or if you will need to be thankful for that concerned citizen who reported the incident when someone tried to steal your car or any of the items inside.
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