Professional thieves may be able to steal any car they set their eyes upon, but the more “layers of protection” your car has, the less likely the thief is going to go after it.

To prevent automobile thefts, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recommends “Layered Automobile Protection.”  The number of layers your car needs varies depending on your vehicle and geographic location.  Your budget should also determine which car anti-theft device is best for you.

Our car accident lawyers believe it is best that every car owner installs a sufficient number of car anti-theft devices on their car.

Layer #1

An unlocked car with a key in the ignition is an open invitation to any car thief, regardless of how many anti-theft devices you use.  The common sense approach to protection is the simplest and most cost-effective way to prevent theft.  Lock your car even if parking for brief periods. You should always:

  • Remove your keys from the ignition
  • Lock your doors and close your windows
  • Park in a well-lit visible area where you can monitor your car at all times

Layer #2

The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device alerting thieves that your automobile is protected.  Common second layer car anti-theft devices include:

  • Alarms
  • Steering wheel locks
  • Brake pedal locks
  • Wheel locks (like the ones police departments use)
  • Window etching that names your car’s security system

Layer #3

The third layer of protection is an anti-theft device which prevents car thieves from overriding the ignition by hot-wiring your vehicle.  Some ignition keys have computer chips that start the ignition.  Other devices stop the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch is activated.  Common third layer anti-theft devices include:

  • Smart keys
  • Fuse cut-offs
  • Kill switches
  • Starter, ignition and fuel disablers
  • Wireless, ignition authentication

Layer #4

The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits signals to a police station once the car is stolen.  Many car thieves may think twice before going through with stealing this car.  Some systems combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of where an automobile may be.  Once the car is moved, the system will alert the owner and the car can be tracked through the computer.

We, as car accident lawyers, and as fellow car drivers, think it is important for all car owners to understand the level of security in their neighborhood, and make proper car anti-theft devices decisions based on that.  With anti-theft devices, we believe many car thefts can be avoided.

Knowing the cars most likely to be stolen is another way to keep your car safe.  Maybe, by avoiding a purchase of one of the cars on the top of the list, your car will be that much safer as a result.

Finally, as car accident attorneys, we also examine if during the crime a car accident is more likely to occur.  Certainly the car thief’s adrenaline has spiked.  So, the “act” of stealing a car in our opinion could easily lead to a car accident.  For example, what might happen if a car thief is caught in the act?  A police chase might occur which could the wrongful death of  innocent car occupants or others on the road.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney after you get into a car accident and find out how we can help you. We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case. No fee if no recovery.