Driving inevitably involves parking. Parking involves making your car secure, that is, removing the key from the ignition, putting the vehicle in “park”, applying the handbrake, and last but not least, locking the vehicle. Most people follow these precautions, but many people every day find their cars stolen. What to do to prevent this? Well, the reality is that as far as auto theft is concerned, the problem has an almost undefeatable solution, in the form of several technologies.

 

Perhaps the most famous mechanical anti-theft device is the “Club” type of steering wheel lock. This device could theoretically be removed by an industrious thief cutting the steering wheel, but it seems that most thieves are in a hurry. The steering wheel lock, positioned so that it is visible from the outside of the vehicle, basically makes a statement to the potential thief that the owner is theft conscious and this in itself is a psychological deterrent.

 

Car alarms have enjoyed some popularity over the last twenty years. With a flashing LED and the threat of an awful noise in the event the car is tampered with, car alarms are an unpleasant prospect for anyone contemplated unlawful entry into an “alarmed” vehicle.

 

The best protection against theft is offered by immobilizers. The immobilizer, when armed, interrupts power to two or three of the engines key systems, such as the starter and fuel pump. The device is embedded usually inside the vehicle’s dash, in a way that would take huge effort to remove it. Basically, the vehicle is not going anywhere unless the immobilizer is de-activated with the necessary mechanical or electronic key.

 

If you really want to get fancy, and address the scenario of thieves loading up your vehicle onto a flat bed truck, you can install a tracking/recovery system. This system uses a transponder that transmits signals received by a monitoring unit, which will pinpoint the location of the vehicle at all times. The “civilianized” version of this system developed for the US military, is said to provide accuracy to within thirty feet. If you (or the police) can get that close to your stolen vehicle, chances are pretty good that you’ve found it.

 

With all this technology, why do car thefts continue to be a major headache? In part it may relate to older vehicles, which are particularly vulnerable to being “hot-wired”. Also, on occasion thieves manage to get access to keys etc. Nevertheless, with the cost of a steering wheel lock at less than the cost of a tank of gas, even the driver with modest means should be able to get iron-clad protection against theft. Also note the ICBC provides a significant “anti-theft” discount on insurance premiums for a vehicle equipped with an immobilizer.

 

So, park carefully. And drive carefully.