Four steps to avoiding car theft

Car theft seems to be an issue that many Australian car owners today don’t give a lot of thought too.

Sure, our modern cars are far harder to steal than older models, but car theft remains a real issue and something we should all take steps to avoid.

Remember, if your car gets stolen, you might have information about your home in the vehicle, you will be without transport and you will probably have to pay a hefty car insurance excess.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau, a not for profit group that was set up by the insurance industry to address insurance-related crime in the US, advises car owners to take these four steps to avoid car theft:

• Common Sense: Lock your car and take your keys.  It’s simple enough, but many thefts occur because owners make it easy for thieves to steal their cars.
• Warning Device: Having and using a visible or audible warning device is another item that can ensure that your car remains where you left it.
• Immobilizing Device: Generally speaking, if your vehicle can’t be started, it can’t be stolen. “Kill” switches, fuel cut-offs and smart keys are among the devices that are extremely effective.
• Tracking Device: A tracking device emits a signal to the police or to a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen.  Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.  Some systems employ “telematics,” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle.  If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

Do you have any other strategies to help avoid car theft? We’d love to hear them. Leave a comment below, or send in an email via [email protected]