Tips to Prevent Auto Theft

Chop shops are a booming business today. Vehicles are constantly being stolen, the professionals carrying out the thefts taking the cars to be stripped down and sold for parts. Auto theft isn't about joyrides anymore and stealing cars is a lucrative crime. The owners of every make and model are at risk, not just those owning high-end luxury cars or fancy sports models. Police are working on the problem and here's some of things you can do to protect your car from being stolen.

First of all, think smart. Magnetic lockboxes may look attractive and be convenient for hiding those spare keys in case you lock your usual set inside the car, but putting extra keys in lockboxes and sticking them underneath the vehicle isn't a good idea. While experts agree having a spare key for the ignition is fine, they caution against keeping spares somewhere on the vehicle itself. Your wallet is the best place.

It sounds simple but the best advice is to lock the doors and roll up all the windows every single time you leave your vehicle. Some statistics have shown that a lot of vehicles are stolen when someone leaves their car running for a minute while they run into the store. This increases the chance of your car being stolen because the thief was given a perfect opportunity. It is also a good idea to avoid parking in unlit areas or near fences or other objects that could hide a thief as they break in. Installing some motion sensitive lights for the driveway is another great way to deter thieves.

Some of the more bold thieves will follow you into a parking garage and lurk until you have left your vehicle alone. Experts have suggested that after you pass through the entrance gate that you stop until the gate has closed behind you. This will deter even some of the most diligent thieves.

Some smaller communities across the U.S. have started auto theft programs to help decrease crime. One of these programs puts a special sticker on your car that allows police to stop and question the driver of the car during the early morning hours, the most common time for auto thefts. I have also seen some more creative theft deterrents. Some people engrave their driver's license number on their stereo equipment so that if it is stolen, solving the crime and recovering any lost goods is much easier.

The average repair cost for a stolen vehicle is between one and five thousand dollars. Being diligent can save you the inconvenience of having to find another way around while the police try to locate your stolen vehicle and have a garage repair it. Considering the cost of those repairs, being careful can save you a considerable amount of cash by preventing the crime of auto theft in the first place.

Jake Newberry sells for NuStar Motors, a used cars Sacramento dealer, which specializes in lifted 4x4 trucks and fast cars such as used Mustangs, Cameros, and Honda V-techs.