Prevention

• Insurance
• Alarms
• Video Surveillance
• Locks and Chains
• Close windows and lock doors
• At home, light your driveway all night
• Engrave valuables

Consider adding some or all of these anti-theft devices to help protect your vehicle:

• Ignition Kill Switch. Splice an inexpensive toggle switch into your ignition wire or to your starter. The trick is hiding the switch well. Keypads, pressure pads and more expensive "Immobilizers" and "Passkeys" can also be used.
• Fuel Kill Switch. The valve that halts the fuel supply is closed.
• Visible Steering Wheel Lock. Prevents the steering wheel from being turned.
• Floorboard Locks. Devices that disable the gas or brake pedal.
• Gearshift Locks. Disables shifting of the transmission.
• Tire/Wheel Locks. Prevents the vehicle from moving.
• Hood Locks. Prevents the thief from gaining access to your security system and battery.
• Armored Collar Around the Steering Column. Protects the column and ignition.
• Alarms. Security systems which make loud warning sounds when doors/hood/trunk are opened. Optional sensors detect glass breakage, motion, tampering, and towing. Panic buttons, back-up batteries, flashing parking lights or headlights, and automatic engine-disable features are also popular.
• Vehicle Tracking. Transmitter hidden in car enables police to track car (may not be available in all areas).

Not all stolen cars are stripped for parts. Many are resold to unknowing and unsuspecting buyers. If you knowingly buy a stolen car, you can be arrested. If you buy a stolen car unknowingly, you could lose the car and your money. Avoid becoming the car thief's second victim by following these tips:

• Be suspicious of any deal that seems "too good to be true."
• When buying from a private individual, make sure that the title and registration match the name and address of the person selling the car.
• Be cautious of a seller with no fixed address, place of employment or phone number.
• Ask the seller for references about past financing and insurance on the vehicle. Verify the information with the bank, finance company, or agent.
• Ensure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate on the automobile's dash is present, secure, and has no loose rivets.
• Check to ensure the VIN plate has not been repainted and the numbers stamped in the plate appear to be the original factory numbers.
• Thieves may remove the VIN plate and replace it with one from a similar wrecked vehicle. If in doubt about plate authenticity, check with a new car dealer who handles the same model, or contact a law enforcement agency.