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 It takes less time for a professional thief to break into your car, start it up and drive away than it does for you to walk into your corner convenience store, plunk down three bucks for a morning bagel and coffee and emerge to watch your ride recede into the distance. And don't presume your elderly clunker's immune to theft just because the most stolen vehicle is the new Chevy Tahoe; thieves take them all. "We know that thieves never miss an opportunity to make a quick buck by stealing a car," says Joe Wehrle, CEO of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. "They work weekends, nights and holidays and ironically, they are particularly busy on New Year's Day and Labor Day."
While there isn't any way to stop a crook that really wants your ride and has the tools and know-how to make it happen, the following tips can help your car become a less inviting target and slow down, discourage or even prevent car theft.
Park in plain sight
Our natural inclination is to hide something we don't want anyone to steal. But, for cars, visibility is the key to safety, say experts. Thieves prefer to work out of sight of people and electronic recording devices, so leave your car in a well-lit, populated area.
Take your keys - always.
If you think this tip falls into the "duh" section of car theft prevention, Google the phrase "keys in ignition" or similar and you'll see many trusting souls leave the equivalent of a sign reading "FREE CAR!" hanging from their ignition switch on a daily basis. Car theft is often a crime of opportunity, so shut your car off and pocket your keys even if you're only ducking into a convenience store.
Don't hide your keys anywhere inside or outside the car.
You know those magnetic key holders you can buy to store your spare key? Leave it in your house on the fridge, not under bumpers, in the glove compartment or anywhere in the car. Thieves know all the hiding places you do, and probably a few more.
Use a variety of methods to slow would-be thieves.
Car alarms are ubiquitous and often go ignored. When used in tandem with other theft prevention methods, though, they will make a thief naturally try to work faster, and if he comes across other security measures, he may give up altogether and move on. Apply the emergency brake, turn your wheels hard left or right and set the car in "park" or in gear, making it more difficult for you to be quickly towed, and consider using a vehicle recovery system or an engine immobilizer device. Buy one of the many steering wheel locks or other highly visible theft prevention devices and use it.
Disable your battery or coil if parking long-term.
A thief usually won't spend time trying to diagnose an apparent engine problem. Consider yanking one of the cable wires to your battery or remove the coil lead wire if you're leaving your car parked at an airport or anywhere else where it will sit unattended for more than a few days.
Sign valuable parts
Take the time to embed your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the inside of your trunk, inside your doors, on your sound system components and any other pricey parts thieves like to chop. If you don't feel like doing it yourself, contact your local police precinct or even your insurance company, some of whom offer free VIN etchings.
With foresight and preventive measures that don't take much time, you can help ensure you'll never have to experience that unique nausea familiar to anyone finding a grease spot where their car was parked.
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