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How to prevent car theft?

By Sil

How to protect my vehicle?

Car theft have become a raging issue in today’s world. Vehicle theft is increasing at such an alarming rate that The National Insurance Crime Bureau has framed a formula "layered approach" to prevent such happenings. The formula is based on two layers

1.Common Sense:

Common sense is inbuilt. This is something you develop with your inner sense and your experience from different situation. Leaving a car unlocked or forgetting your key in the car is a very common situation that we face in our everyday life. But this is a type of situation that inevitably welcomes any thief to steal your car very easily.The common sense is the only means that can stop you from such uncanny happenings. None of the car theft prevention devices can help you under such circumstances.

2.Car theft preventive devices:

• Immobilizing Device — These type of devices emits electric flow of fuel to the the car engine till the hidden switch is activated.
• Warning Device — This is essentially an alert for the thief to know that the car is protected.
• Tracking Device — These types of devices are used to recover thwarted vehicles. The devices emit signals and the vehicles are tracked with the help of computer. Some devices are operated with the help of "telematics" combined with GPS and wireless technologies.

SL No.	Preventive devices	Expected price	Advantages
1.	Lock for your steering wheel	$25 - $100	The system restricts would be thieves at the very first step.
2.	Car Alarms	$150 - $1000	A scientific means to drive away thieves.
3.	Kill Switches	$10 - $125	It is pretty difficult for the thief to locate the switch to steal it away.
4.	Electronic Tracking Devices	$400 - $1,500	The electronic tracking device is really very helpful to track the stolen car and revive it back.
5.	Electronic Keys	Inbuilt	Such codes are inexpensive ways to keep the car secured.
6.	Steering Column Armored Collars	$100-$200	This restricts the thieves to steal away the car easily.
7.	Tire Locks	$80 - $200	This is an effective means to keep away the car thieves.
8.	Window Etching	$20 - $100	By etching on different parts of the vehicle makes your car safer from the thieves.
9.	Theft-Deterrent Decals	$2 - $5	This is a cheaper way to fool the thieves.

Different preventive devices:

1.Lock for your steering wheel:

This is a long metal bar with a lock. It is fitted on the steering that makes the steering wheel immovable. This discourages the thieves at the very first glance. The price of such a device ranges from $25 to $100.

Benefits: This helps in restricting the thieves to reach your car. In particular, the would be thieves, while taking a glance of your car trough the window moves back.

2.Car Alarms:

This is an alert. It is formulated to keep away thieves. Normally, the car alarms are designed with motion sensors, loud siren, or a series of tones in the 120 decibel range. Some alarms are designed in such a manner, that it includes an automatic kill switch. Some others have more advanced technology inbuilt in them. Such devices come along with a headlight that keeps flashing along with the blow of the siren.

3.Kill Switches:

The kill switches restricts the flow of electricity or the fuel to the main engine till the hidden switch is on. It restricts the thief to avoid the ignition or the hot wiring vehicle. The hidden switch needs to be switched on, to start the car. It would thereby be pretty difficult for the thief to locate the switch very easily to steal it away.

4.Electronic Tracking Devices:

This is essentially a hidden transmitter. It has been designed to track the thief from a monitoring station. It is kept in a hidden location in the vehicle. The device emits a signal about the location of the car. This helps in tracking the car from the monitoring station. The electronic tracking device is really very helpful to track the stolen car and revive it back.

5. Electronic Keys:

Some cars have inbuilt electronic keys. These electronic keys are normally operated with the aid of selective codes. The one who handles the car can use such codes to lock the car devices. It is a standard item in some models. Thereby such codes are inexpensive ways to operate the car smoothly.

6. Steering Column Armored Collars:

The Collars restrict the thieves to hot-wire the vehicle, by breaking into the steering column. Such devices might be installed permanently or temporarily. In case of temporary set up, each time the driver leaves the vehicle he would have to install it manually. Even this dissuades the thieves to steal away the car easily.

7. Tire Locks:

These types of locks stops the car from moving. This is the most apt devise to discourage the would be thieves. This is an effective means to keep away the car thieves.

8.Window Etching:

The process of etching a car identification number in one window as well as the other parts of the car also dissuades the car thieves in stealing that car in a smooth manner. It is not at all cost effective. Some vehicle theft prevention groups provide etching for free. Etching on different parts of the vehicle makes your car safer from the thieves.

9. Theft-Deterrent Decals:

Decals are normally used to identify the stolen vehicle. This is backed by the national theft prevention company or an alarm system.

Whom should i report under such circumstances?

The National Insurance bureau (NIB), has framed this "layered approach" to secure you from such frauds that can be contacted under such circumstances. The main purpose of this not profit organization is look after the insurance frauds. But they are also involved in saving the helpless people who suffer from such vehicle theft cases.