Securing Your
Vehicle Be Alert !
| Lock your car.
Take your keys. |
| Never hide a
spare key on the vehicle. |
| Roll up windows
completely. |
| Remove keys from
ignition. |
| Park in
well-lighted areas. |
| When parking in
attended lots or parking garages, leave only the ignition key with
the attendant. |
| Park as close as
possible to an open business. |
| Do not leave
valuables in sight to tempt a thief. |
| Always park with
the wheels turned toward the curb. |
| Back your car
into the driveway. If you drive forward into the driveway, a car
thief could raise the hood to hot wire the car and it would appear
to the neighbors that you were just working on the car. |
| If you have a
garage, use it. |
| Lock your garage
door. |
| When going out
of town, if possible, remove the distributor cap or the coil wire.
|
| Never leave your
car running while it is unattended. |
If Your Car Is Stolen...
Vehicle theft should be
reported as soon as possible. However, before the vehicle can be listed as
stolen, you must have your vehicle's license number and/or the vehicle
identification number (sometimes called VIN).
Stolen vehicles are sometimes used in the commission of other crimes.
Quick action often results in recovery of your vehicle as well as prevention
of another crime.
If the criminal is apprehended, be willing to file charges.
Testify in court.
Follow Up
If you recover your own
vehicle, you must call the Police station. If you do not, your car will
continue to be listed as stolen.
Identifying Your Car
Etch Vehicle Identification
Numbers on window glass trim.
Engrave expensive accessories such as T-tops, radios, etc. with car's
Vehicle Identification Number.
Drop a business card into the doorframe.
If possible, retain copies of all vehicle paperwork at home in a safe place.
It is not good practice to keep the original certificate of title in the
vehicle. If the car is stolen, this title can be altered easily and/or your
signature can be forged.
When Selling and Buying A Car
| Be cautious of
the low priced bargain car. |
| Beware of fast
sell pressures. |
| Check the
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see if it has been altered.
|
| Be suspicious of
fresh paint on a car. |
| Verify that the
inspection sticker and the license tag are current and are from the
same state. |
| Do not accept
duplicate car keys. |
| Complete all
paper work at the time of the sale. |
| If you are
selling a car, never allow a person to test drive the vehicle alone.
|
| Ask to see an
interested buyer's drivers license, and write down the name,
address, driver's license number, etc. |
| Make certain the
driver's door contains a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
Label. This label is often called a mylar sticker, and it contains
the Vehicle Identification Number. Law requires presence of the
label. |
Anti Theft Devices
They stop the
amateur and slow down the professional.
Anti-theft devices are not foolproof, but they can stop the amateur and slow
down the professional. The longer it takes to steal a car, the more
attention the thief attracts, and the more likely the thief will look
elsewhere. Anti-theft devices include those listed below.
Kill Switch: The car will
not start unless a hidden switch is activated. The switch prevents
electrical current from reaching the coil or carburetor. Please check
your warranty before installing one of these switches. Some warranties
prohibit installation of these devices, and doing so nullify the
warranty. In such cases, there is a possibility that a STARTER BYPASS
SWITCH could be used without affecting the warranty.
Alarm Systems: These systems contain a device that will activate a
siren, lights, or horn if the car is tampered with. Consider a backup
power source for the alarm, as professionals could deactivate the alarm
if they get to the power source. Keys or code numbers to the alarm
should never be given to parking lot attendants or valets. (Do not
try to fool a thief with an alarm decal when no alarm exists.)
Fuel Switch: This device
stops the fuel supply.
Armored Collar: This equipment consists of a metal shield that locks
around the steering column and covers the ignition, the starter rods,
and the steering wheel interlock rod.
Locking Gas Cap
Crook Lock: This lock is a long metal bar that has a hook on each
end to lock the steering wheel to the brake pedal.
Chain and Lock: These devices should be used to secure motorcycles
and motor scooters.
Keyless Entry System
Anti-theft devices may cost a
few dollars to several hundred dollars. Many of those devices are now
standard or optional equipment offered by auto manufacturers.
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