How Can I Stop Vehicle Theft?
Many people feel powerless in stopping thieves from taking your car. We may think that thieves are so sophisticated that they can out-smart the best anti-theft device on the market. This mis-placed thinking is a tremendous aid to car thieves in Maryland.
In 1995, the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council granted a study performed by the Baltimore Regional Auto Theft Team to assess the effectiveness of anti-theft devices. What we found surprised everyone; most victims did not use any anti-theft device. Over the five months of the study, auto theft detectives examined 800 vehicles, and discovered that 95% were unprotected against theft. Any protection is better than no protection.
Despite the many crime prevention tips that have been passed to our communities on how to stop vehicle theft, a gulf exists between what the average person knows about crime prevention and what they practice. While the "Club" and "Lo-Jack" have become common words in our language, many citizens still assume the defeatist belief that the thieves can’t be thwarted, which simply isn’t true. The Baltimore Regional Auto Theft Team estimates that only 35% of car theft is professional or insurance fraud. That leaves the majority of thefts committed by "opportunists" stealing vehicles that are easily taken. Any easy to use and inexpensive anti-theft device , such as a "Club" greatly reduces the chance that your vehicle will be stolen. However, even knowing that, the Baltimore Regional Auto Theft Team’s study found that few clubs were defeated, almost all were unlocked and left laying on the car’s floor. Other programs also exist at low cost. The national Watch Your Car program is free to join and allows law enforcement to stop your car during the theft prevalent nighttime hours between 1 and 5 a.m.
Finally, a full quarter of the stolen vehicles in Baltimore were taken with keys in the ignition. While many people feel that their cars are safe in front of their homes, but not at the local mall, crime analysis shows that three-quarters of the vehicles stolen in the Baltimore area are taken in front of the victim’s home, and only 4% are stolen at malls and shopping areas. Crime prevention begins at home when keeping your car safe. Never leave a car running while unattended as any thief can steal a car with keys in the ignition.
Article written by:
Sgt. Bob Jagoe
Baltimore Regional Auto Theft Team
Baltimore County Police Department
