Cars the car thieves like
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2000-01-15
Driving an Acura Integra (2-door), a Hyundai Tiburon FX (2-door), or a Jeep TJ (4WD)? Then make sure they're locked up as securely as possible because, says the Vehicle Information Centre of Canada (VICC), they're the most popular models among car thieves.
VICC released the information, which is for vehicles manufactured in 1997 and 1998, in its annual publication How Cars Measure Up. Also in the top 10 most frequently stolen vehicles are the Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 (2-door), the Volkswagen Golf (2-door), the Toyota 4Runner (4WD), Mazda MPV (4WD), Hyundai Accent (2-door), the Dodge Dakota (4WD), and the Honda Civic (2-door).
How Cars Measure Up � is a tool for consumers to use before they actually go out and buy a car," says VICC president and CEO Henning Norup. "It tells consumers how theft, collision and other claims costs affect the cost of insurance."
In fact, the theft of automobiles and their components costs Canadian consumers almost $600 million a year in insurance premiums.
"Mere numbers, of course, cannot begin to address the many consequences of car theft-the emotional upset to victims, wasted time, loss of irreplaceable personal belongings, crimes committed using stolen vehicles and fatalities resulting from car thieves attempting to avoid capture," says VICC.
VICC developed its Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating (CLEAR) system to help insurers to predict future car insurance claims costs more fairly and accurately. CLEAR analyzes a vehicle's claims history to predict future losses. These ratings only apply to the vehicle being driven and not the other factors involved in rating an insurance policy. such as persons' driving records and where they live.
Avoiding car theft in most cases involves using common sense, the centre says. For instance:
- Always lock your vehicle.
- Never leave keys in an unattended vehicle. Many vehicles are regularly stolen from store parking lots and gas stations.
- Use good judgment in choosing parking locations.
- When parking at airports and other large lots, never leave the parking claim check in the vehicle.
- Keep valuables, especially wireless phones and notebook computers, out of sight.
- Consider the purchase and installation of a VICC-approved security system if the vehicle is not equipped with one from the manufacturer.
- If the vehicle has a security system, make sure it's in good working order and activated.
- Factory-installed security systems are sometimes deactivated when remote control starters are installed. If you have a remote starter or intend to buy one, ask the installer how it will affect the security system.
The following advice isn't included in the VICC's recommendations, but we'll include it gratuitously: If you're worried about your car being stolen, drive around in a "wreck." No self-respecting car thief will ever touch it.
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