Automotive Security facts

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5826-San-Jose-Autos-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Automotive-Security-Facts

Cars are usually stolen for their parts.
Having been in the automotive security business for a number of years, I learned some interesting facts about keeping a car from being stolen and what the consequences and results can be if it is stolen. For those living in California, pay close attention and see how much you're at risk here.

 Auto theft can be from a careerist so that the car can be sold for parts, which is more often than in it's entirety. I refuse to call them professionals or pros. Criminals don't deserve titles that imply skill, status or valor. Another thief is the joy rider or someone who is looking for a free ride along with the opportunity to steal the contents of the vehicle. A major problem with the cavalier attitude of auto theft and insurance settlement is when the car is stolen to commit a very serious crime. Finally there is the cowardly vandal who smashes (or pries) to get at possessions whether they are in sight or hidden. Some deterrents and tools are listed below:

The Club - strictly the visual deterrent to the causal thief. Sawing through the steering wheel is an easy method of removing it. There are more extensive iterations but the can be very, very bulky to the point I would be very curious how consistently they are used. Doesn't protect interior contents.

Alarms- back in the late nineties, some very skilled alarm installers told me that the best alarm is the one from the factory. This is remains true to this day. Anything else requires cutting and splicing wires can be traced. Those blaring alarms you hear are almost always aftermarket alarms with shock sensors that are too sensitive. Some guys take great pleasure in setting them off with the car or bike. Not that I know anyone like that. Alarms have gotten quite sophisticated with notifications, remote arming, disarming, etc. This does exceed the factory offerings and alarms in general are a decent deterrent for amateur thieves or those who don't want to spend much time exposing themselves to being caught.

LoJack - This police activated system uses a coded radio signal that is triangulated by a single police vehicle. Multiple vehicles (cars, planes or helicopters) can also track it. The key with LoJack is any vehicle can be stolen but the key is to get it back quickly before heavy damage is done. After all, it's not hard to tow a vehicle away.There are three key limitations. First the range of the signal is 5 to 8 miles at the most. This means a police vehicle equipped with a tracking unit must be within range, depending upon terrain. Usually not a problem in areas with some degree of suburban density.

Second, limited installation locations. The unit is always hidden but if an automobile has monitored electronics, the number of places to install it for a the minimal trickle charge needed to keep it active is limited.Finally it doesn't have nationwide coverage. Whether activated or not, once out of range of tracking units, the car cannot be tracked. If it returns back to a coverage area, tracking can resume provided the unit is still transmitting.

  GPS- A wide range of options such as notifications, assistance, directions, etc. with the advantage of nationwide coverage. But a major disadvantage is it is a line-of-sight function. In other words, once hidden from sight, it's gone. Except of course the location from which it was last "seen".If you're familiar with satellite radio, which has ground-based repeater stations, you've probably experience an outage. Perhaps in your garage and no doubt in an underground parking garage. If you have a navigation system, it uses internal sensors along with a compass to continue tracking your progress.

A back-up battery is needed for power transmission if the power source is disconnected. Also, the antenna needs to be in a location that can transmit successfully. Such as under the dashboard. Therefore the hiding locations become easier to find.
A monthly fee of some kind is an integral part of satellite tracking systems. One reason why it's thought that OnStar doesn't have a high renewal rate after the first free year is due to fees. One report has the renewal rate at 60%, and that is after years in the marketplace.

 Services that go beyond simple vehicle tracking such as concierge, assistance, diagnostics etc. are called telematics. There are many more aspects to these systems such as options, guarantees, warranties and of course cost and installation aspects and considerations along with compatibility.

As you can tell, no system is perfect and urban legends abound for each one. However, when combined together, it makes it unlikely your car will be stolen. If it does get stolen, the recovery systems make it more likely to get back your vehicle back quickly with much less damage.

 One common misconception is that with these sophisticated alarms and GPS systems that warn you when the vehicle is being tampered with or stolen, that is automatic permission to apprehend the offender. Well that just leads to more problems. The best bet is to call the police and let them do their job. They are far more enthusiastic about tracking a criminal than they are about routine patrol.

Got a question about cars you would like answered? Performance, racing, modifying, shopping, makes, models, events, etc? Ask me here: AskRobAboutCars@gmail.com and I'll do my best to answer your question and publish it here on Examiner.com!