 | Richard Smith has been in the Auto Body Industry for 26 years. He is ASE Certified Master Collision Tech, an I-Car Platinum Tech, and an I-Car Instructor. He and His wife own and operate Sharp's Auto Body & Collision Inc. located at 202 North Elm St. in Pittsburg, Kansas. He is a father of 5 children, Ex Military E-6 Staff SGT. and is active in his home Church. The one thing he enjoys doing is educating the public about the safety and proper repair of automobiles, no matter if it is a vehicle that has been in a collision, a small dent, or a complete restoration. The shop is always equipped with a skilled professional to handle your auto needs. |
Automotive Service & Repair
2011-10-20 11:38:03
Preventing vehicle theft
A: Many people mistakenly believe that the newest cars are nearly theft-proof with all of the high-tech alarms installed. However, by the time you read the first paragraph of my answer another vehicle is stolen somewhere in the United States—even with high-tech alarms installed.
On average a vehicle is stolen every 33 seconds. Although some places are more prone to theft than others, no place is immune. Due to the current financial crisis, not just the car, but the parts of your car called “hot parts” have a greater value on the black market and may be driving up the theft-rate.
There are two parts to reducing the likelihood of your vehicle being stolen: vigilant behavior and implementing anti-theft devices.
About half of all vehicle thefts results from owner error. Rather than kick yourself later, be sure to do all that you can to prevent it from happening to you. Here are some very practical but frequently forgotten things you can do to reduce your risk:
•Park your car in the garage rather than in the driveway. Many driveways are not visible from the most used rooms of a home, and thieves use that to their advantage.
•Never leave doors unlocked.
•Never leave the keys in the ignition or the car running, no matter how nearby you will be or how quickly you will be back.
•Make sure windows are kept up if you are away from the car.
•Keep valuables out of sight.
•Park in well-lit areas and near areas where others are likely to be walking to their cars as well.
Next month, we will discuss the types of anti-theft devices available and how each can be implemented.
