Email

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) recently released 2010′s most stolen vehicle list. For the first time in 8 years, domestic cars are more favorable to thieves than foreign varieties. At the top of the list is 1994 Honda Accord, followed by 1995 Honda Civic, 1991 Toyota Camery, 1999 Chevrolet Pickup, 1997 Ford F150 Series, 2004 Dodge Ram, 2000 Dodge Caravan, 1994 Acura Integra, 2002 Ford Explorer, with the 1999 Ford Taurus at the tail end.

There are many different reasons that car theft occurs. Thieves will typically choose a car that has valuable parts, and is relatively easy to steal. Technology, such as GPS tracking, has resulted in a decrease in occurrences of car theft. 2010′s car theft numbers are predicted to be the fewest since 1967.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau have released some guidelines for a layered approach to car theft prevention. Following these steps can significantly reduce your risk of vehicle theft.

1. Don’t Make It Easy: This suggestion is common sense, almost to the point of insult. However, a staggering amount of car theft can easily be prevented with a little precaution on the part of the owner. Roll up your windows and lock all car doors when leaving your vehicle. Make sure you take your keys with you.

2. Put Up Red Flags: Equipping your car with an alarm is a huge red flag for potential thieves, that tells them you’re not an easy target. Something as simple as a little flashing light on your dashboard is often enough warning. Should the thief miss the flashing light, a loud alarm with flashing headlights will likely draw enough unwanted attention to run the criminal off.

3. Immobilize Your Vehicle: Most cars can be customized with immobilization devices, aimed to keep anyone but the owner from starting the car. Some of these devices include smart keys, fuel cut-offs and kill switches. If the car wont start, it can’t be stolen.

4. Use Tracking Technology: GPS tracking technology may be the most effective method of preventing and recovering stolen vehicles. If a thief sees that your vehicle is equipped with GPS tracking, he or she is not very likely to steal it. The main reason being that even if the car is successfully stolen, the police can easily track the property, and possibly arrest the thief red-handed with your stolen vehicle.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor