Summer is the worst season for vehicle theft and AAA Central Penn is reminding vehicle owners that taking preventive measures to protect their vehicles can go a long way against theft.
In 2024, more than 850,000 vehicles were stolen in the United States, one every 37 seconds.“Anti-theft options are becoming more sophisticated, but car thieves are also becoming more sophisticated,” said Matt Meeks, vice president of Insurance Services with AAA Central Penn. “It’s important for vehicle owners to take preventative steps to protect themselves from experiencing auto theft.”
Making thoughtful choices and utilizing theft prevention devices can minimize auto theft. The more layers of protection, the less likely your vehicle will be stolen.
AAA Central Penn reminds vehicle owners to keep these four keys to theft prevention in mind:
1. Awareness
- Park in a well-lit area
- Lock the doors and close the windows
- Remove spare keys from inside the vehicle
- Move valuables and other items out of view
2. Deterrence
Visible theft deterrents signal that your car could be difficult to steal. Consider using:
- Steering wheel locks
- Brake pedal locks
- Theft deterrent decals
- Audible alarm systems
3. Immobilization
Immobilizing devices prevent a car from being hot-wired. These include:
- Smart keys
- Fuse cut-offs
- Kill switches
- Starter or fuel pump disablers
- Wireless ignition authentication systems
4. Tracking
A tracking device emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when a vehicle is stolen. Some systems employ telematics, which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.
