Fourth of July Warning -- Tips to Prevent Vehicle Theft

If you drive to a fireworks show you could be walking home

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Jul 01, 2019, 06:00 ET

DES PLAINES, Ill., July 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Fourth of July holiday nears, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is reminding vehicle owners to secure their vehicles before heading off to enjoy any of the day's celebrations.

Release Resources: Infographic

Independence Day falls in the middle of the pack for recording the most thefts according to NICB tracking data. According to the National Crime Information Center's (NCIC) stolen vehicle file from 2014 through 2017, a total of 8,068 vehicle thefts occurred on the Fourth of July holiday.

"Vehicle theft impacts individuals in many ways and none of them are pleasant. It's not just the loss of your transportation; it also involves possible financial loss, time away from work, securing alternative means of transportation and dealing with the criminal justice system should an arrest and prosecution materialize," said Joe Wehrle, president and chief executive officer for NICB.

Take some time now and review NICB's four "layers of protection" to guard against vehicle theft:

Common Sense — the common sense approach to protection is the easiest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. You should always:

Remove your keys from the ignition
Lock your doors /close your windows
Park in a well-lit area

Warning Device — the second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular devices include:

Audible alarms
Steering column collars
Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
Brake locks
Wheel locks
Theft deterrent decals
Identification markers in or on vehicle
VIN etching
Micro dot marking

Immobilizing Device — the third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Some examples are:

Smart keys
Fuse cut-offs
Kill switches
Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
Wireless ignition authentication

Tracking Device — the final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ "telematics" which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

REPORT FRAUD: Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422)or submitting a form on our website.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU: Headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, learning and development, government affairs and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $496 billion in insurance premiums in 2018, or more than 81 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 92 percent ($254 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

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SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau