How to Bum A Ride in 60 Seconds, (For months).

A problem that is plaguing the RGV, and has been for years is vehicle theft. While the number of stolen vehicles has dropped significantly, the recent drug and alien smuggling incidents have increased, so stolen vehicles is on the rise again. Due to our proximity to the Mexican border, the smugglers have been getting bolder and stealing local vehicles to carry out their smuggling operations without risking a personal vehicle.

Some of the most commonly stolen vehicles in the RGV are the Ford F-250 and the Ford Expedition but other large pickups and SUVs are also targets. These vehicles are commonly stolen and used by smugglers because of their ability to carry large loads of drugs and or illegal aliens as well as their off road capabilities.

So how can you protect yourself against having your vehicle stolen? Two of the best methods of vehicle theft prevention are:

·         The Club (around $40.)

·         Kill switch or Fuel cutoff device. ($30 -$50 plus installation).

The only issue with these two methods is that you must remember to use them EVERY TIME you leave your vehicle unattended. A car thief depends on you forgetting to use the methods but will quickly walk away from your vehicle if he sees a club installed. It’s just too much trouble for him to try to remove a Club from a steering wheel when there are so many other vehicles without them. One issue with a kill switch or fuel cutoff switch is that a car thief may not know it’s installed until after he breaks your window or damages your car and drives off. Of course, he won’t get very far, but you’re still left to deal with the damage. 

 

Just because your vehicle isn’t an F-250 or Expedition, doesn’t mean your vehicle is immune from theft. Sometimes a car thief will use any vehicle available if the opportunity is available.

According to The National Insurance Crime Bureau, the top 10 most stolen cars are:
1. Honda Accord - 58,596 total thefts
2. Honda Civic - 47,037 total thefts
3. Ford Pickup Full Size - 26,770 total thefts  
4. Chevrolet Pickup Full Size - 23,745 total thefts 
5. Toyota Camry - 16,251 total thefts 
6. Dodge Caravan - 11,799 total thefts 
7. Dodge Pickup Full Size - 11,755 total thefts
8. Acura Integra - 9,555 total thefts
9. Nissan Altima - 9,169 total thefts 
10. Nissan Maxima - 6,947 total thefts 

Here are some additional tips.
 

·      Never leave your car running or the keys in the ignition when you're away from it, even for            "just a minute."

·         Always roll up the windows and lock the car, even if it's in front of your home, sunroof too.

·         Most car thieves already know the most common hiding places for hidden spare keys.

·         Never leave valuables in plain view, even if your car is locked. Put them in the trunk or at least out of sight.

·         Remove portable electronic devices such as smart phones and GPS navigation systems, including suction cup or bean bag type mounts. (Even the visible appearance of a suction cup ring on the glass windshield can be an enticement to a thief to break in and look for the GPS system.)

·         Park in busy, well-lighted area but not next to large vehicles such as vans.

·         Carry the registration and insurance card with you. Don't leave personal identification documents or credit cards in your vehicle. 

-      Do not leave your garage door opener in the vehicle when it is unattanded.

 

When you pay to park in a lot or garage, leave just the ignition or valet key with the attendant. Make sure no personal information is attached. Do the same when you take your car for repairs.

Here’s another concern that you should be aware of that an Advent customer reminded me of. A few years ago, there was an email floating around about small holes being drilled under the car door handle. The email stated that a driver noticed a small hole under the car door handle on the passenger side door.

 

 

The email further states that nothing was missing from his car but the theory for why his car was broken into was that the perprtrator accessed his GPS system to find out where he lived. While that may be possible, it’s highly unlikely that that was the reason for accessing the vehicle. It would be just as easy to follow the victim home or find some other information in the vehicle such as mail or insurance card, or just steal whatever valuables are in the car. It is possible to break into certain vehicles using this method but, this method is highly unlikely since there are quicker ways to access a vehicle. But, that’s just my opinion.

 The original story can be read here: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/handle.asp

I would think stealing valuables or your garage door opener would be a more likely scenario since the perp could then follow you home then wait till you leave to access your home through the garage. Lesson here, take your garage door opener with you when you leave the vehicle unattended. It’s probably a good idea to remove the ”home” coordinates from your GPS and not leave personal identifiers in your car.

Tip: Enter your vehicle license plate number VIN, insurance company phone number, policy number, and vehicle description of all your vehicles in your smartphone. If your car is stolen, you’ll have all the relevant information for the police, as long as you don’t leave your phone in your car. (I also enter tire size, registration expiration date, inspection due date, oil change due date, oil type, and other vehicle specifications for maintenance purposes).

 

Case #1

“I’ll only be few minutes”

I just stood there holding my coffee for like ten minutes, I couldn’t believe it. I was expecting a prankster classmate to pull back in at any second.

You were at a local gas station?

Yeah right near my house, I stop there all the time for gas, coffee, you know…simple stuff. I had filled up and then pulled around in front of the station to pay and get some coffee; I was seriously gone for like 3 minutes.

What’d you do next?

I had no idea what to do. Honestly I was thinking about my final that I was going to be late for, it was early… you know… before class. I went back in and eventually the clerk found out and called the police, the whole thing was surreal. I tried to call my dad at work, but had to leave a message for him. I felt so helpless.

Did the police think the vehicle was stolen?

Well…yeah, but the policeman finally shows up, and starts by asking questions.

“Was it locked?” He asked,

“No.” I said. I had actually left it running. “I just went in to pay and grab some coffee.”

He then asked me if I knew it was illegal to leave a running vehicle unattended, and that I could be ticketed.

Case #2

“I never had to lock up before”.

What kind of car was it sir?

Black, it uh, it was a black Buick LeSabre. It was the only car my wife and I used.

And where was it stolen?

Just outside the grocery store! It was early evening, I don’t know, say around seven? I had parked around the side of the store as I usually try to do. It’s a little darker there…no lights, but it is a lot closer to the door and easier to carry the bags, you know.

Did you get a look at the thieves? 

Oh, no, no. I was in the store shopping when it happened. They say nobody saw anything, I’m sure it happened very quickly. I know I hadn’t locked the car, and the sunroof was open, it was a nice day. You just never think about things like that, you know? I mean all my life I’ve never locked my car and I’ve never had any problems. Shows you what the world is like today.

Did you ever find out why it was stolen?

Yeah, the police actually found the car 3 days later way down in the city. It had been banged up in a police chase. Apparently it was stolen for drug trading; it seems it always comes back to drugs or things like that. I just never expected something like that way out here, makes you feel uneasy.

 When you got it back was the damage extensive?

Was it covered by insurance?

Oh yeah, I’m all squared away with the insurance people, that’s all taken care of. But I don’t have the car back yet... they are holding it for forensic investigation, I don’t know the details. All I know is that my daughter had to take a day off to drive us into the city to file the papers and collect what was left of our things, and that wasn’t much. I can't even remember everything that was in the car, but we've had some odd phone calls recently; I am a little concerned about possible identity theft. But the car, no, we won’t see the car till after the repairs are finished, who knows when that will be.

Your daughter is still helping you out then?

No, she isn’t able to do that. We wouldn’t want her to. No, we’re getting along for now with this rental. Our insurance agent was really great, he worked a deal for us on the rental. Because of the trial and extenuating circumstances however, it isn’t covered by the insurance. This is all coming out of the savings. What a waste.

Well I hope it gets resolved for you quickly.

I just hope this case wraps up before it gets cold. We don’t usually stay up here in the winter, and I don’t want to mess with the rental down south.

Case #3

“It’s a piece of junk anyway”

So where were you?

I was at a customer’s apartment working on his computer. I came out to get some tools and thought I went the wrong way. I went back and forth between the 2 parking lots 3 times before it sank in.

What kind of car is it?

It’s a blue 99 Ford Escort. I had an awesome stereo system in it though, and some mean speakers. I spent around $1000. on the sound system alone.

Was your car ever found?

Yeah, yeah, down by Rodgers and 5^th, behind an abandoned gas station. They pretty much stripped it, obviously. The sound system was gone. What sucks most is that my repair tools were in the trunk and my school books were in the back seat along with my military uniform and some gear…all gone. My girlfriend had just given me a 5 disc CD of my favorite band for my birthday last week too…gone.

Did your insurance company cover you?

Uh, ya know, in the back of my mind, I kinda’ thought that if my piece of junk car was ever stolen, my insurance would at least give some money, maybe for a down payment or something, No dice…wasn’t worth enough. Now I gotta bum rides to school, to work, the armory. Plus, I have to replace all my tools and uniforms… not worth it, not worth it.

So what your next move?

Dunno, dunno. Maybe…(walks away).

We don’t always realize how dependent we are on our cars, regardless of how we feel about them. What would life be like without your car? Rely more on your security measures than your insurance company. Because it only takes 60 seconds.

F.Y.I.

 
The state of Texas now allows for you to have your insurance card on your smart phone rather than leaving a piece of paper with your home address in your car where it could be used to track you.

The Texas Help End Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) Program which was a free state initiative designed to prevent auto theft, will cease operations on Dec 31, 2013. The state is asking that members remove the stickers from their vehicles.

 

Be safe!