SANTA ANA, Calif. – No device will protect your car completely from a professional thief. If the thief wants your car, he or she can thwart just about any device.
However, not everyone who eyes your car is a professional thief. Some of these devices or even a combination of them may be enough to deter an amateur from messing with your car. Remember – a thief wants to get in and out quickly. Taking time to cut or bypass circuits isn’t something they want to do unless they can do it fast.
The best approach, according to experts, is to layer the devices – you might want an alarm, a tracking system and a device that immobilizes the vehicle so the car can’t be driven away.
Here are a few popular devices:
The Club
What it does: Attaches to steering wheel and locks it so thief can’t drive your car.
How much it costs: $39.99 Why it’s good: A visual deterrent. Inexpensive. Readily available. Easy to use.
Weakness: A thief can cut the steering wheel and take the device off.
Web: www.theclub.com
LoJack
What it does: A tracking system. Transponder is placed on one of 20 locations on your vehicle. Even you aren’t told where it is placed. Once you call police to report your car stolen, the authorities use a computer to track it.
How much it costs: Starts at $695 for basic package.
Why it’s good: LoJack says the “vast majority” of the time it can recover cars intact with little or no damage. The company doesn’t have statistics that break out the percentage of cars that are recovered partially dismantled. What it will say is that many times LoJack recovers the car within minutes of the signal being received.
Weakness: Owner must report theft to police promptly. Time is important.
Professional thieves can strip a car in a few hours, some faster. By the time you report the theft, your car may have been stripped. Also, some experts say professionals know how to locate and disable the transponder.
Web: www.lojack.com
Viper 5000
What it does: A pager alarm that lets the consumer know if someone is tampering with the vehicle. Also confirms if your system is armed and doors looked. Has remote adjustable “shock sensor” so if you’re parked near an airport or train station where there is a lot of noise and vibration, you can adjust the sensitivity of the shock sensor so you won’t get a false alarm. You must be within about a quarter-mile of your car for the device to work.
How much it costs: $420 Why it’s good: It’s an alarm/alert system that travels with you.
Weakness: Distance. If you’re out of range, you won’t know what’s up with your car.
Web: www.directed.com
Power Lock
What it does: Prevents thief from hot-wiring your car.
How much it costs: $229 Why it’s good: Permanently installed on starter motor so vehicle won’t start even if a thief removes the system.
Weakness: Finding a place to get it installed. Installation can put total cost at $400 to $475.
Web: www.powerlock.com
OnStar
What it does: Tracking device. But it also offers safety services such as roadside and accident assistance. Some plans offer hands-free, voice-activated phone service.
How much it costs: Depends what you drive. OnStar can’t be installed by a dealer or retailer. It is offered on many General Motors models. You also have to have an OnStar subscription. A “Safe & Sound” plan costs $16.95 a month. Other plans cost more.
Why it’s good: A combo of a tracking device with some convenient safety features. (Who hasn’t heard the OnStar accident commercials?)
Weakness: As with all tracking devices, car owners need to first call the police and report the vehicle missing. Time is crucial. By the time your vehicle is located, it may have been “chopped” already. Must buy a certain vehicle to have the option factory installed.
Web: www.onstar.com
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