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By Greg Bartlett

In recent years, the rate of car theft has been declining. In fact, according to the FBI’s data, the auto theft rate in 2008 was the lowest it’s been in about 20 years. Some of the lowered rate is because of the police targeting the auto theft trafficking rings, and some is due to manufacturers adding protections to the cars, such as car alarms. But some of those same protections and additional safety features can be added by individuals to help reduce auto theft incidence – at least of their own car.

Vehicle Theft & GPS

For instance, a GPS tracking system is one option which helps to reduce car theft. If your car is stolen, the GPS unit will alert you the moment your car is moved, and it can then locate your car and track its every movement, allowing you and the police to discover where your car has been taken and retrieve it and hopefully the one who stole the car before the car is dismantled for parts. The GPS tracking system will even record speed and stops made.

Another advantage of a GPS system is its ability to shut down the motor. Not all GPS tracking units have that ability, but a buyer can choose a unit with that capability or even add it on later. If your car has the shut down option and your vehicle is stolen, you can tell the GPS tracking system to shut off your car’s motor, and it will. Considering that it will be much harder then for the thief to get the car to go anywhere, you’re even more likely to be able to recover your car without any damage or dismantling having occured.

Despite the dropping auto theft rates, if your car is stolen, the chances of getting it back are minimal, especially as more time passes. Typically, less than 13% of auto theft cases are cleared by arrest, so for hundreds of thousands of people, when their car is stolen, they will never see it again. On the other hand, around 90% of cars with GPS tracking capabilities are recovered. Some options, such as locking your car and having a car alarm, may help your car from being stolen in the first place. But if your vehicle is stolen, a GPS tracking system will be able to locate and monitor your car, increasing the chances of your getting your transportation back quickly and all in one piece.