Each year, more than a million vehicles are stolen in the United States - about one vehicle every 30 seconds.

Car thieves, like home burglars, generally have an easy time of it. Their thievery is made simple by car owners who obligingly leave doors unlocked (in four out of five cases of auto theft) or who leave keys in the ignition (in one out of five cases).

Though professional car thieves have entered the field in increasing numbers, most cars are still taken by amateurs who can be stopped fairly easily. You can greatly increase your protection against this type of crime by taking the following sensible precautions.


Never leave your keys in an unattended car, even while running a quick errand, and always lock your car.
Potential car thieves often note identification numbers printed on ignition keys and can obtain duplicates through car dealers by presenting the key number, posing as the car's owner. Car dealers or locksmiths can punch out these numbers from your keys, eliminating the problem. Before having this done, however, record these number in a safe place in case you need duplicates.
Never attach a tag with your name and address to a key ring. If the keys are lost or stolen, the tag will lead the thief directly to your car - and your home. While you're at it, only leave the ignition key with a parking attendant. A dishonest parking lot attendant may have house keys duplicated and sell them, along with your name and address, for a tidy profit. Avoid leaving an auto unattended in public parking lots for an extended period of time. A car is five times more likely to be stolen from an unattended lot than from the street or an attended lot. At night, park in well-lighted areas with pedestrian traffic. Auto thieves don't like working in spots where they are clearly visible.
Whenever possible, turn wheels sharply toward the curb when parking, making it extra difficult for thieves to tow your car. Lock all doors and roll up windows whenever leaving the car unattended. Be sure vent windows, a favorite means of entry for thieves, are shut tight.
When you park the car, remove CB, tape deck or valuable possessions from the seat. These items tempt thieves and should be locked in the trunk.
With an electric engraver, etch your social security or operator's license number on tape decks and similar items. Consider engraving the same number in several placed under the hood, on car doors, trunk lid or other conspicuous places so that a positive identification can be made of your vehicle if it is recovered after theft.
Record your identification number (located on a small metal plate on the dashboard) and store it in a safe place.
Never leave the automobile registration or your drivers license inside the car. Carry these items in your wallet. If you don't thieves will be able to produce legitimate documents when stopped by police.
Consider the purchase of security devices, such as: -A second ignition switch or "kill switch" which prevents electrical current from reaching the ignition system. -A locking gas cap -An alarm device which will activate a siren, horn or light - or all three - to frighten the thief away before he is able to steal your car.