Types of Car Security

Security comes in many forms, and when it comes to your precious car, the more the merrier. After all, you can’t trust a simple lock and key when it comes to protecting your brand new car. Thankfully, there are other ways to ensure your car is safe when you’re away from it.

Steering Wheel Lock

If a thief finds their way into your car, it’s likely they have the skills or tools at their disposal to start your car without a key. Simply crossing a few wires is all it takes, so you’ll want to beef up your defense with a steering wheel lock. These contraptions hook over and around the steering wheel, requiring a key to unlock. They prevent the steering wheel from turning, thus stopping any criminals who rely on hotwiring a car to steal it. You can purchase these at many stores, such as Target or Wal-Mart, and can even order them online. They’re ideal if you live in a bad neighborhood, or just simply want to take an extra precaution to protect your car.



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LoJack

This household name is one of the more popular methods of protecting your car. It is an aftermarket vehicle tracking system that relies on a small, silent radio transceiver installed somewhere on the car. The device and vehicle are registered with the National Crime Information Center, and if a car is stolen and a police report is made, the police will look it up in the database. The transceiver will then send out a signal, which will alert cop cars who have a LoJack tracking unit and are within 3-5 miles of the vehicle. Not every state works with LoJack, and there are more advanced versions that can help prevent theft in other ways, such as alerting the owner when the car is started or moved.



Car Alarm

No one likes car alarms. They’re loud and annoying, and typically go off when someone simply walks near your car. The next thing you know you’re scrambling out of bed to shut off the alarm that’s doing little more than annoying the neighbors. However, if you live in a high crime neighborhood, a car alarm might be just what you need to deter thieves. If you have a car alarm installed, it’s best to have one that has a unique pattern or sound so you know it’s your car going off.

 

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Keyless Ignition

Many new cars are installed with a keyless ignition. Instead of turning a key to start the engine, all you need to do is put your foot on the break and hit a button. Well, how is this safer, you say? The only way the car will start is if the remote trigger is within the vicinity of the vehicle. As such, you certainly don’t want to leave your keys in the car, but if a savvy thief were to break in, either through popping the lock or breaking a window, he will be stymied when he goes to start the vehicle.



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Posted on January 15, 2013 at 9:00 AM