Helpful
Hints To Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Auto Theft
As
we enter the dog days of summer, we also come into the months
where auto theft is at its most prolific point. Studies have
shown that the months of July and August are the leading months
for motor vehicle theft in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with
close to 20 percent of all reported auto thefts being in these
months. You may ask yourself why the summer months and not some
other time of the year? But when you realize that young people
20 years old or younger make up 60 percent of those arrested for
auto theft, you can understand why the summer months are so
adverse for auto theft. There are things that you can do to
avoid having your car or truck stolen. The Smithfield Police
Department with the cooperation of the Virginia State Police,
Help
Eliminate Auto Theft Program (HEAT) and the National
Insurance Crime Bureau work to get the message out that auto
theft is mostly avoidable if people take an active role in its
prevention. Having this in mind we recommend what we call the
layered approach to auto theft prevention.
Layer
1: The Common Sense Approach
The
common sense approach is just that, use common sense when it
comes to securing your vehicle. Lock your vehicles! Half of all
stolen vehicles are left unlocked. Take the keys out of your
car! Nearly 20 percent of all vehicles stolen have the keys left
in them. Park in well-lighted and attended lots! Car thieves
usually don’t like witnesses. Finally, don’t leave valuables
in plain view. Most car thieves have no intention on keeping
your car, but your valuables are something all together
different.
Layer
2: Visible or Audible Deterrent
Most of us have been in a parking lot somewhere and
heard one of those car alarms go off. It is probable that you
have seen the advertisements on television for the Club and
other visible auto theft prevention devices. Some of you might
have even purchased some of these devices with the hope that
they do what their advertised to do. The simple answer to that
is, yes they do work but only when used with the first step of
the layer approach, common sense. The object of layer two is add
another deterrent in front of the car thieve. Car thieves will
be less likely to steal your vehicle with one of these devices
on them. The reason for this is simple. The more time and
attention you give the thief the less likely your car will be
stolen.
Layer
3: Vehicle Immobilizes
These
devices are designed to prevent your vehicle from being stolen
by doing just what the name says, immobilizing your vehicle.
Some of your newer vehicles come equipped with computer chips in
the ignition keys which will immobilize a vehicle, while other
vehicles come with electrical and or fuel system that shuts down
so that the person attempting to drive the vehicle cannot move.
Layer
4: Tracking Systems
The
final layer in the layered system is the use of a tracking
system in your vehicle. Lo-Jack is a system
that when activated can track a stolen vehicle that is within
many miles from its location. The process of installing the
Lo-Jack system consist of placing a small computer tracking chip
in an undisclosed
location on your vehicle. When activated, a
patrol unit tracking device can pinpoint the location of the
target vehicle.
Auto
theft is not always avoidable, however with common sense and the
help of today’s technology you minimize the chance of becoming
a victim of auto theft. The yearly average cost of reported
motor vehicle thefts in Virginia is $112,495,129. It is
important that all of us take auto theft prevention seriously.
For more information on auto theft prevention and the Help
Eliminate Auto Theft (HEAT) program you can go to
www.heatreward.com
or you can call the Smithfield Police Department at (757) 357-3247.