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MV PD Safety TipsĀ 

Vehicle Theft Protection

carAuto Theft is a big and profitable business occurring more often in large cities. According to the FBI crime statistics, a car is stolen in the U.S. every 23 seconds. The experienced car thief can steal the average car in less than a minute. The most frequently stolen vehicles are the most popularly sold over the last decade. For the past five years the most frequently stolen vehicles have been the late 1980’s and early 1990’s model Toyota Camry, Honda Civic and Honda Accord. These vehicles have been targeted because of the ease in which they can be stolen. Owners of these vehicles and others should take precautions to prevent their vehicle from being stolen.

A truly dedicated and talented vehicle thief is difficult to deter. However, there are many things that a vehicle owner can do to deter the vehicle thief and to make the theft more difficult. Below are some tips you can use to avoid being the victim of a car thief.

  1. Lock your car.
  2. Take your keys.
  3. Never hide a second set of keys in or on your car. Consider using a Valet key if you have one.
  4. Park in attended lots if accessible (leave only the ignition key with the attendant).
  5. Never leave your car running unattended (vehicles are commonly stolen at ATMs, convenience stores, etc.).
  6. Close all windows when the car is parked.
  7. Don't leave valuables in plain view.
  8. Use your emergency brake when you park.
  9. If you have a garage, use it.
  10. When parked in a garage, make sure the garage doors are locked and secured.
  11. Never leave your title inside the car.
  12. If you are going to leave your vehicle unattended for a long period of time, remove the electronic ignition fuse, coil wire, rotor distributor or otherwise disable the vehicle.
  13. Replace "T" shaped door locks with straight locks.
  14. Stolen cars are more easily traced when Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) have been etched on car windows.
  15. Drop business cards, address labels or other identification inside vehicle doors.
  16. If your car is on a trailer, chain it and padlock it.
  17. When the trailer is not attached to your vehicle (i.e. boats, dirt bikes, jet skis), chain the trailer to a large stationary object and make sure the items on the trailer are also secure.

WHEN POSSIBLE, USE ANTI THEFT DEVICES

  1. Install an ignition kill switch.
  2. Install a fuel kill switch.
  3. Get a visible steering wheel lock, which keeps the wheel from turning.
  4. Place a gear shifting lock on your car.
  5. Hood locks will not allow thieves to access the engine of your vehicle.
  6. Have an audio alarm installed with a visible red light on the dash that activates when it is armed.
  7. Have a vehicle tracking system installed.

These are just a few ways you can protect your vehicle from being stolen. Remember, no vehicle is 100% theft proof, but if you follow these tips, your vehicle will be much more difficult to steal.

For additional information, the Moreno Valley Police Department can be reached at (951) 486-6700.