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Presented by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)

According to a NICB/Gallup study, 1 in 10 Americans surveyed have been victimized by vehicle theft.

How Hot a Target Are You?
A recent national NICB/Gallup survey revealed some interesting statistics about Americans' attitudes toward vehicle theft:

In 1994, 24% of Americans surveyed had anti-theft devices installed in their cars. However, of those with anti-theft devices,
25% said they do not always activate the device.
39% of Americans surveyed described themselves as not at all concerned about vehicle theft.
11% of Americans polled admitted there are occasions when they leave car keys in the ignition.
31% of Americans surveyed said they do not always lock their doors.

The survey also identified the top five reasons why vehicle owners do not purchase anti-theft devices. The NICB offers some counter arguments:

Chances are 1 in 42 that either your vehicle or its contents will be stolen this year. I do not live in a high-risk area. (27%)
There is no such thing as a low-risk area. 1993 FBI data shows that auto thieves are leaving the cities in search of easier targets -- towns and suburbs.

My car is too old. (17%)
Used cars are stolen more often than new cars. Since parts for older models are in high demand,auto thieves often strip a vehicle and sell the parts at a total value of two to four times a vehicle's actual worth.

There is no need. I am not concerned about my car being stolen. (11%)
A vehicle is stolen every 20 seconds in the U.S. Chances are 1 in 42 that either your vehicle or its contents will be stolen this year.

They are too expensive. (10%)
Most anti-theft devices cost less than the deductible you d pay if your car was stolen. Some insurance companies offer lower insurance rates to vehicles with anti-theft devices.

I never thought about it (5%)
It is time you did. In 1993, 1.55 million cars were stolen in the U.S. Another 1.8 million vehicles had contents taken and 1.1 million had accessories stolen.

___Vehicle Theft Prevention Tips:

Close your windows, lock your doors and take the keys with you.
Park with front wheels turned sharply toward the curb and apply your emergency brake to discourage towing.
Activate any anti-theft devices you may have. Better yet, install a device that is passive, automatically activating itself a short time after the key is removed.
Put all packages and personal items out of sight. Items left in the open invite theft.
Drive in the center lane when on highways. This reduces your chances on becoming a bump-and-run theft victim.
Use your garage at home. Lock both your vehicle and the garage.
Don't park on the outskirts of a shopping center, motel or other parking lots. Park near the entrance, especially if you will be leaving your car unattended for an extended period.
Etch your vehicle identification number in hard-to-find spots, using an engraver or dye marker. Hide business cards or address labels on the bottom of floor mats and under the seat, and drop them down window channels into the door interior.

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