Lists come out every year detailing the most stolen cars and, with that, what steps one can take to deter car thieves. Yet, a car is stolen in the United States every 24 seconds according to the Insurance Information Institute. Auto theft continues to thrive despite those lists and regardless of new anti-theft technology that emerges with every new model year.
What else can you do besides not drive the most stolen car in America and equip your car with anti-theft protection? We're going to give you the unique opportunity to look inside the mind of the car thief and learn how he steals cars. With the help of police auto theft experts and auto theft professionals, we've compiled this list of some of the ways thieves steal cars followed by suggestions of how to stop them from doing it to you.
We have no intention of providing new information to the wrong people and simply want to educate the good guys. We haven't disclosed anything that car thieves don't already know and we have left out specific details to avoid making this a "how-to." Knowing the insider tricks of auto thieves will motivate you to take the necessary precautions to defend your vehicle.
1. Bump against the car to check for a car alarm. Since it seems like everything from a loud Harley to a rumbling garbage truck can set off a car alarm, people have been conditioned to tune them out. Instead of a motion-sensitive car alarm, use one that has a pager that will notify you as soon as your alarm is activated.
2. Break the window or jimmy the lock to gain entry into a locked car. Don't tempt car thieves. Keep valuables out of plain sight. Take them with you or store them in the trunk. Also, if you have a stereo with a removable face plate, take it with you instead of tucking it away in the glovebox.
3. Cut the steering wheel itself if there's a steering wheel lock. Instead of locking just your steering wheel, "lock" your car's ability to go by using a starter disable switch and putting it in a place where only you can get to it.
4. Look for exposed wiring that can be cut or for the central unit of the car alarm to deactivate it. Instead of going to a big retail chain store, have your car alarm installed by a professional car alarm installer, preferably a reasonably shady one. Unlike retail chain employees, these experts know what it takes to make your car elusive to crooks.
5. Look for car alarm decals to figure out which method to use to eliminate the alarm. Never display stickers that advertise what sort of car alarm you have, or audio system for that matter. Consider using a hood lock cable so the thief can't get to your battery or car alarm mechanism.
6. Jump into an unattended running car while the owner is at the ATM, dropping off videos, etc. Never leave your keys in the ignition even for a quick errand. Car theft is a crime of opportunity, so don't make it easy for them to grab yours.
7. Look for the car's title, registration or anything with a home address on it. Keep your registration and insurance information with you and never leave personal information in your car.
8. Stake out sporting events, movie theaters and shopping center parking lots for the car of your choice since they offer the largest variety of cars in one area. Whenever possible, park in lots and garages that have security and/or parking lot attendants. If not, don't park in the farthest corner of the lot but rather near the entrance of these facilities to insure the most foot traffic (and the most potential witnesses). Also, opt for paying the extra couple of dollars for the monitored parking lot instead of using the free parking on the less-trafficked side streets.
9. Find the second set of keys the owner "hid" in the car. Don't leave spare keys in your car or in a magnetic box attached to the underside of your car. Thieves know where all the "hiding places" are.
10. Copy specific vehicle information and take it to the manufacturer to get a replacement key made. Instead of VIN etching the major parts of your vehicle, which doesn't turn most thieves off, drop your business card into the doors through the window slots to identify your car as yours.
Even though auto theft is a crime of opportunity, if a crook really wants your car, he'll do whatever it takes to get it regardless of steering wheel locks or car alarms. But with the above knowledge, you can slow him down, make your car inconvenient to him and, hopefully, discourage him from attempting to steal your vehicle. Layering your car with anti-theft protection, especially if it's at the top of the most stolen vehicles list, is a good start. But, as with anything that is of value to you, the most important protection you can give your car is to take a proactive approach to security when you leave it unattended.
Sadly, So Many Things to Steal and So Many Ways to Steal Them
08.06.11
Burglary
Someone broke into a home on the 200 block of West Butterfield Road between 11:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. June 3. The burglar entered the home through an unlocked service door in the attached garage and stole about $500 in jewelry.
Fraud
Someone fraudulently used personal information to purchase a 2007 BMW from Elmhurst BMW, 466 W. Lake St., last October. The vehicle was shipped to California, but no payments have been made on the car. The dealership reported the fraud to police on June 7.
Theft Arrest
Barbara Lawson, 41, 566 S. Sunnyside, Elmhurst, was arrested and charged with retail theft after an incident at Enzee Boutique, 140 N. York Road, at 3:47 p.m. June 7. The store manager reportedly recognized Lawson from a previous retail theft in 2007. The manager told police Lawson put a dress in her purse and walked into a fitting room. Officers were waiting for her when she exited the store, and she reportedly told them she decided against stealing the dress. The store owner signed a complaint, and Lawson was released on I-bond.
Talks, tweets or tours: the social side of gardening
01.07.11
Riddle: Every day during the past week I’ve been into gardening, but I haven’t pulled a weed, lifted a shovel or placed a plant. How can that be?
Answer:I have been “gardening social.” That is, enjoying the social aspect of gardening: group learning, group touring and gardener interaction.
While we may stereotypically picture a gardener as a lone person, in hat and gloves, toiling among the vegetables and flowers, the truth is that we humans are social animals and like to share our passions. We work together on gardening projects, form groups to exchange information or plants, and gather together to learn. The first garden club in America was organized in 1847 (Chunnenuggee Public Garden Club in Macon County, Ga.), and we’ve been forming groups ever since.
The symposia experience
Twenty years ago, many educators thought the rise of the Internet signaled the end of classes, symposia and possibly conferences, for gardening and other subjects. After all, one can find most information online, and can even attend a satellite conference or webinar from home.
you can follow him to his house and steal the car when walks into his house. Either way drive back to Salieri's once you steal the car ...
Is it safe to own a car with a "Smart Key"?
Aug 05, 2010 by Kevin Y | Posted in Safety
A friend of mine has a Lexus car with one of those "Smart Keys", the one where the master key sends a signal to the car and then the car unlocks for you. It can also be used to start the car with the push of a button, not the turn of a key. On top of that, the trunk opens with a button hidden near the license plate. Oh yeah, and there's a safety feature that locks the car after a while if it's been left unlocked and the "Smart Key" has been out of range for a while, something like 10 seconds.
Anyway, that friend went shopping, and after shopping, walked up to a car of the same model and color that hers was. She opened the trunk, put her groceries in, then got into the car (by the way, remember that this isn't her car!). She even started it, and them she finally realized that it wasn't her car because hers had been washed, and this one was really dirty. She left.
Then, she realized she forgot her groceries in the trunk of the other car and came back and found the owner of the other car pondering over the groceries which had mysteriously appeared in his trunk!
Anyway, is it actually safe to own a car like this? Because obviously, the car had been locked until she got there, and the owner wasn't present at that time, meaning that HER KEY HAD UNLOCKED THE OTHER CAR. Is this like one of those "totally by chance" scenarios which will never happen to anyone ever again? Or could this be exploited with a device which could send a similar frequency to any "Smart Key" operated car to effectively and easily steal another person's car?
Sorry that this question is so long, and any help which isn't like "duh", "no way", "yeah", or a dumb answer like that would greatly be appreciated!
That cannot and would not happen at all...
The vehicles computers uses a fixed code or rolling code for key verification each time the key is turned the computer generates a random number which must be returned for ignition to occur.
UCANTCME | Aug 05, 2010
Well you could own one, but it is extremely risky. You have to be sure that it is always on a safe place and always with you. IMO, just don't buy extremely expensive car. Or make sure it has an alarm or something. Good luck.
Oh and also, by knowing that story yourself, you should already know for the most part what kind of car to buy
Mike Whatchacare | Aug 05, 2010
I wouldn't want one, the point that you can START the car is where I would really be worried. I have a remote starter that doesn't start other cars, and even then without the key in the ignition it shuts off as soon as you hit the brake. Great safety to make sure no one breaks in and tries to go off just based on a starter. I mean the trunk thing doesn't exactly bother me, so you push a button instead of someone being able to pick the lock. My point is that other then accidentally getting in the wrong car if someone wanted in your trunk they probably could get in.
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That said, there are clever ways to steal a car. Stealing something generic, easy to strip and sell for parts because it's very plentiful is the smart theft
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