The best ways to prevent auto theft

Tips to prevent auto theft

Auto theft is a prevalent crime that affects vehicle owners worldwide. Taking proactive measures to protect your car can significantly reduce the risk of theft. Here are some essential tips to help you prevent auto theft

Auto theft soared during the pandemic, and it’s still high

What’s driving the increase? Several things. First, car thieves are getting smarter and they key cloning devices that allow them to drive off with your car. All they have to do is gain access, and they’re good to go. Organized crime rings steal cars so they can export them to foreign markets where it’s easy to alter VIN numbers and register the stolen vehicle. However, domestically, they steal cars to strip parts and resell them.

Practice these common sense tips to avoid auto theft

• Lock your doors— With modern computer cloning devices, getting the engine started is no longer the hard part of stealing cars. Getting in without making noise or breaking glass is the key to successful theft. Don’t make their job easier. Lock your doors.
• Remove your keys from the vehicle— Yes, people do that and you may as well stand outside your car and hand them the keys.
• Close the windows and sunroof— Again, making it harder to get inside is your #1 protection against auto theft.
• Park in well-lit areas— Thieves like to work in the dark. Make their jobs harder by parking in well lit areas.
• Never leave any valuables in your car— That means no bags, computers, cell phones, or tablets. And it also means no coins. Yes, they’ll break in to steal your change.
• Never leave your car running— Ever

Here are the most commonly stolen auto parts:

• Air bags— black market price is $50-$200 depending on

Stolen airbags are big business

make and model and whether it’s a steering wheel, passenger side, side curtain, or seat bolster.

• ADAS components— The expensive LIDAR and radar sensors mounted on the front of your car are easily sold for big bucks. Also, the ADAS blind spot detection sensors in your side view mirrors are easily removed and sold.

• Catalytic converters— Stolen catalytic converter net the thieves $75 to $300 depending on the vehicle.  

• Factory alloy wheels— The black market price nets thieves about $100

Top cities/areas for auto theft

Bakersfield, CA
Denver, CO
Pueblo, CO
Albuquerque, NM
Portland, OR
San Fransisco, CA
Billings, MT
Milwaukee, WI
Seattle, WA
Yuba City, CA

Auto theft by model (20245)

Here are the most commonly stolen cars (in order)

Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Kia Soul
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Kia Forte
Ford F150 Series Pickup
Kia Sportage

Avoid auto theft at home

• Light up your driveway to prevent auto theft— lights, lights, and more lights. Car thieves work in the dark. If you leave your car in a dark spot, it’s automatically a target—even in your own driveway.

Forget about motion sensor lights in your garage or house. They’re worthless. Crooks know you won’t notice because you’ll be sleeping at 2:00 a.m., and they’ll be long gone by the time the police arrive, especially if the crook is using a smart key and you’ve left the car doors unlocked. Insert the key. Start the car. Drive away. Bye-bye, car.

Install dusk-to-dawn LED lights on your home and garage. LED lights only consume about 15 watts per night, so the total cost to light up your driveway runs about .60/month—a small price to pay.

• Trim back vegetation around your home and car to prevent auto theft

Remember that part about car thieves preferring to work in the dark? Well, even if you light up the entire neighborhood but have tall trees and shrubs, you’ve made yourself a target. Don’t give thieves a protected place to work. Cut the damn bushes!

Park in well-lit areas on streets and parking lots. Park under a street or parking lot light, even if it means you have to walk a bit more to the mall or to your home.

• Etch your VIN number on all windows and apply warning stickers.

Buy a VIN etching kit online (about $25) and follow the instructions to etch your VIN number into all the windows. That won’t deter ordinary break-ins, but it is a deterrent for car thieves who plan to take your car to a chop shop. will deter car thieves. Car doors sell for around $250 each depending on the make and model. But if the glass is VIN etched, the value drops to about $50 because the chop shop has to break out the glass and sell it as is.

• Buy a steering wheel lock.

Yes, they look stupid and they’re a pain. But that means they’re a pain for the crooks too. Sure, they can simply break your steering wheel, but that makes the car harder to drive. We’re talking deterrent here. If you live in a crime prone neighborhood, at least make it as hard as possible for the bad guys.

©, 2016 Rick Muscoplat

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