Avoid Getting Your Next New Car or Truck Ripped Off

Having been the victim of auto theft three times in Sacramento I know that both the Sacramento law enforcement put this type of crime very low on their list for enforcement. In a five year period I had a Datsun 280ZX, an Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and a Mazda 626 ripped off.

In addition to this I was also the victim of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) swapping scam when I purchased a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. In this particular case the thief was so cocky he sold the car thru an advertisement in the Sacramento Bee classifieds using his home address and phone number.

Even armed with a name and address the scam artist/car thief was never arrested or prosecuted and of course my money was never recovered. It seems that the only way to get Sacramento LEO’s involved is to give them a reason to chase a suspect. They love high speed chases.

Here are a few tips for keeping your car or truck safe and out of the hands of crooks.

·        Have an auto alarm system professionally installed. Your car may have come equipped with a factory alarm but before depending upon it have a professional assess it as many factory units are inadequate. Alarms come in a variety of makes and models and can be purchased with installation from around $100 to over a $1,000. On the low end a basic system will have the ability to sense shocks to the vehicle such as when someone bangs into the car or attempts to force open a door. It should also provide keyless entry thru a key fob that attaches to your keychain and a motion sensor to detect the automobile being lifted from the ground if an unauthorized attempt to tow is made.
More advanced models have features for two way paging so your key fob will alert you if the alarm is triggered, ignition system disable (this is usually standard on a base model but requires extra installation fees), remote start and the ability to automatically roll up your windows and lock your doors when you exit the car or truck. All systems should have a panic button on the key fob.

·        If you have an automobile such as a sports car or SUV that is a prime target for thieves you may want to consider purchasing “The Club” or similar device. The Club is a device that attaches to your steering wheel and prevents the wheel from being turned far enough to actually operate correctly. Although not infallible as the steering wheel can be cut or even replaced it does slow a thief down and unless there is a special reason they want your car most of the bad guys will simply move on to the next target.

·        Never, ever, leave valuable objects such as a purse or large collection of CD’s visible. Although your car may not get ripped off you might just come back to find a broken window. Follow this rule for everything you put in your car. An expensive looking back pack, a wrapped gift or bag that might look like it holds a laptop will get your window smashed just as quick as a purse.    

·        Don’t leave your keys in the ignition or leave the car unattended with the motor running to “warm it up” or “cool it down”. Nearly one fifth of all car thefts are the result of keys being left in the vehicle.

·        Lock your car or truck. In approximately half of thefts the owner admits to leaving the vehicle unlocked. Thieves are basically lazy or they would have real jobs, make it difficult and they will in most cases move on.

·        On a high theft target you may want to consider investing into a Lojack System. Lojack allows law enforcement to track your vehicle thru a hidden transmitter. As this is an easy task you might just have some luck in getting them to cooperate and recover your car. It may also qualify you for a substantial insurance discount.

·        Have the windows etched with the VIN of the vehicle. This makes the parts much less attractive to a chop shop and they might just move on. Again, you may qualify for an insurance discount.

·        To make it difficult for a grab tow always set your emergency brake and point your wheels to the curb. If pulling into a driveway or parking space pull in front end first with a front wheel drive and back in with a rear wheel drive.

·        Over half of all thefts take place under the cover of darkness. If at all possible park in a well lighted area.

Check with your insurance agent regarding the type of discounts available for installing antitheft devices such as the Lojack, an alarm and having your windows etched. Sometimes the discounts will pay for the equipment over the life of the vehicle leaving you with piece of mind for free.

It is often much cheaper to utilize an aftermarket shop then the dealer for antitheft equipment. For example, on a Ford sedan I recently purchased the dealer wanted over $600 to etch the VIN number into the glass but the same service from a detail shop was about $150.

 Most stolen vehicles in California: