Thirty Ways to Deter Car Theft

• Take your keys with you. Nearly 20% of all vehicles stolen had the keys in them.
• Lock up your car. Approximately 50% of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
• Never hide a spare key in your car. Extra keys can easily be found if a thief takes time to look.
• Park in well lit areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts happen at night.
• Park in supervised lots. Car thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
• If you park in an supervised lot, leave only the door/ignition key. If your trunk and glove compartment use the same key as the door, have one of them changed. Do not give the attendant easy access to your glove compartment and trunk. Upon returning, check the tires, spare tire and battery to ensure they are the same as those you had when you parked.
• Never leave your car running even for a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at gas stations, convenience stores, ATM's, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold weather mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up. In some states, leaving your key in an unattended motor vehicle is a crime.
• When parking close your car windows all the way. Do not make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
• Never leave valuables in plain sight. Do not make your car a more favorable target that attracts thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.
• Park with your wheels turned towards the curb. This makes it tough for your car to be towed away. Turn your wheels to the side when parking in the driveways and parking lots.
• If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway. If it is front-wheel drive, park front end first. For four-wheel drive vehicles the rear wheels sometimes lock, making them difficult to tow.
• Always use your parking brake when parking. Not only does this prevent the car from moving during PARK, but it also makes it tougher for thieves to tow.
• If you have a garage, park your vehicle inside. It is safer for your car to be parked in a garage than having it sit out on the street.
• When parking in a garage, lock the car and the garage door. By doing so, car theft prevention greatly increases.
• Do not leave the registration or title in your car. A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. Keep the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet.
• Disable your car when leaving it unattended for long periods of time. Remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it.
• Use straight locks instead of T shaped lock asssemblies. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level that flare out in a knob or "T" shape. A thief can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull the lock. Straight locks prevent this.
• Etch the vehicle identification number (VIN) on several major car parts. Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers have been etched on car windows and major parts.
• Engrave identifying numbers on expensive accessories. Engrave personal I.D. numbers such as driver license numbers or the last four digits of your social security number on car stereos, CD players, cell phones, etc., so the thief will have difficulty disposing of them.
• Put business cards, address labels, or other identifying information inside vehicle doors. Car thieves usually change vehicle identification numbers. By marking your vehicle as much as possible, you help police in identifying your car.
• Install an ignition kill switch. Splice an inexpensive toggle switch into your ignition wire or starter. The trick is hiding the switch well.
• Install a fuel kill switch. The valve that enables the flow of fuel is closed when the switch is off.
• Use a visible steering wheel lock such as "THE CLUB. This prevents the steering wheel from being turned properly.
• Use floorboard locks to disable the gas or brake pedal.
• Use gearshift locks. This disables shifting of the transmission by locking it in place.
• Use tire/wheel boot locks; i.e. a Rhino. Wrap it around the wheel to prevent the vehicle from moving. This is the same tool that municipal parking enforcement and universities use to enforce parking violations.
• Use hood locks. This prevents the thief from gaining access to your security system and battery to disable your alarm.
• Use an armored collar around the steering column. This protects the column and ignition.
• Use an alarm. Loud warnings should sound when doors/hood/trunk are opened.
• Use a GPS in your vehicle. This is a silent transmitter hidden in car. This enables police to track the car. Example: LoJack.