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Tips on REDUCinG VEHiCLE THEfT anD THEfTs fRom yoUR VEHiCLEFollow these tips to reduce your chances o being the victim o auto thet.

1. Always lock your car. Approximately 50% o all vehicles stolen were let unlocked.

2. Always take your keys. Never leave them in the car. Nearly 20% o all vehicles stolen had the keysin them.

3. Never hide a second set o keys in your car. Extra keys can easily be ound i a car thie takes timeto look.

4. Park in well-lit areas. Over hal o all vehicle thets occur at night.

5. Park in attended lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and preer unattended parking lots.6. I you park in an attended lot, leave only the ignition/door key. I your trunk and glovebox use

the same key as the door, have one o them changed. Dont give the attendant easy access to yourglovebox and trunk. It may be inconvenient, but check the tires, spare and battery to insure they

are the same as those you had when you parked.7. Never leave your car running, even i you will only be gone or a minute. Vehicles are commonly

stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings

when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up.

8. Completely close your car windows when parking. Dont make it any easier or the thie to enter your vehicle.9. Dont leave valuables in plain view. Dont make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plai

sight.

10. Park with your wheels turned towards the curb. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side idriveways and parking lots.

11. I your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway. Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked ront end rst. On ouwheel drive vehicles the rear wheels sometimes lock, making them dicult to tow.

12. Always use your emergency brake when parking. In addition to ensuring saety, using the emergency brake makes your ca

harder to tow.13. I you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable.

14. When parking in a garage, lock the garage door and your vehicle. By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances odeterring a thie greatly improve.

15. Dont leave the registration in your car. A car thie will use this to sell your stolen car. Either le the registration at your hom

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or oce, and carry a photocopy or carry the registration in your purse or wallet.

16. Disable your vehicle when leaving it unattended or an extended period. Remove the electronic ignit ion use,

wire, rotor distributor, or otherwise disable your vehicle anytime thieves may have extended access to it.

17. Replace T shaped door locks with straight locks. Some vehicle doors have lock assemblies at window level

fare out in a knob or T shape. A thie can use various tools to gain access inside the vehicle, grab and pull

lock. Straight locks prevent this.

18. Vehicle identication number (VIN). Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when vehicle VIN numbers h

been etched on car windows and major parts. ID stickers include VINs and can assist police in identiying y

vehicle in the event that it is stolen.

19. Engrave expensive accessories. Engrave personal ID numbers on car stereos, cellular phones, etc., so the thie

have diculty disposing o them.

20. Drop business cards, address labels, or other ID inside vehicle doors. Car thieves usually alter vehicle identica

numbers. By marking your vehicle a much as possible, you assist police in identiying your car.

21. Splice an inexpensive toggle switch into your ignition wire or to your starter. The trick is hiding the switch w

Keypads, pressure pads and more expensive immobilizes and passkeys can also be used.

22. Install a uel kill switch.

23. Use a visible steering wheel lock which both prevents the steering wheel rom being turned and discoura

would-be thieves.

24. Install foorboard locksdevices that disable the gas or brake pedal.

25. Use a gearshit lock. It disables shiting o the transmission.

26. Tire/wheel locks prevent the vehicle rom moving.27. Hood locks prevents the thie rom gaining access to your security system and battery.

28. Installing an armored collar around the steering column protects the column and ignition.

29. Use an alarm. Loud warnings sound when doors/hood/trunk are opened. Optional sensors include g

breakage, motion, tampering and towing. Panic buttons, back-up batteries, fashing parking lights or headlig

and automatic engine disable eatures are also recommended.

30. Use a vehicle tracking device. A transmitter hidden in your car enables police to track car.

31. Use special license plate locking screws to make it hard or thieves to remove your license plate.

WHEn BUyinG a UsED CaR1. When buying rom a private individual, make sure the registration matches the name and address o the pe

selling the car. It goes without saying, be very cautious o a seller with no xed address, or phone number.

the seller or reerences about past nancing and insurance on the vehicle. Veriy the inormation with the ba

nance company, or agent.2. Ensure the vehicle identication number (VIN) plate on the automobile dash is present, secure, and has no lo

rivets. Check to see i there is an ID sticker in the glove box or on the door jam that matches the VIN on

dashboard. Ensure the VIN plate rivets are original. All 1970 and newer automobiles produced in North Ame

have stainless steel rosette rivets with six petals and a hole inside the middle. They are dicult to scratch w

a knie.

3. Thieves may remove the VIN plate and replace it with one rom a similar wrecked vehicle. I in doubt about p

authenticity, check with a new car dealer who handles the same model or contact a law enorcement agency

4. The VIN on the dash must match the VIN on the registration.

5. An excessively loose ignition switch may indicate tampering. Check the switch or chisel or pull marks.

6. Be wary o a resh paint job on a newer vehicle. This may indicate an attempt to change the cars identity.

7. Check the inspection and license plate stickers to be sure they are current and issued by the same province.

8. I the seller provides you with only re-made keys, not original manuacturers keys, be suspicious.9. Question the seller i the registration was recently issued to an older vehicle.

10. Compare the engine identication numbers with all other numbers to ensure a match.

11. Be cautious o new license plates on an old car, or new plate bolts on an older plate.

spoTTinG sToLEn aUTomoBiLEsMost stolen cars are driven through the streets regularlyand thieves may be using them to commit other crimes.

can spot many o these cars and report them immediately to the police. Look or:

Vehiclesbeingoperatedwithoutignitionkeys.

Brokenplasticorholesinsideofsteeringcolumn.

Brokenwindowglass.

Dirtytagsonshinycars,ornewboltsonoldlicenseplates.

Personsofferingtosellcarsoraccessoriesatlessthantheirregularvalue.

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THE Vin nUmBERThe VIN is a unique vehicle identication number. VINs are normally located in several locations on a cbut the most common places are:

On the door frame/door post of the front doors (usually drivers but sometimes passengers) On the engine itself (machined pad on front of engine) On the dash near the windshield On the cars rewall

In the left-hand inner wheel arch On the steering wheel/steering column On the radiator support bracket On your cars title, registration, warranty, or on the declarations page of your auto insurance policy

pERsonaL safETy in yoUR CaR1. When driving your car, keep your doors locked and windows rolled up.

2. I you stop in trac or at a light, keep your car in drive and stay alert.

3. Never pick up hitchhikers.

4. Travel on well-lighted, busy streets. Avoid unsae areas.

5. Check your daily routeslook or sae places to stop, such as police or re stations, all-night convenience sto

or gas stations. I you are being ollowed, go up to a public place that is sae and call 911. Dont bring the prob

home with you.

ConVEniEnCE DEViCEsCredt Crd KeThis is a special plastic card that holds two keys (also plastic) which you can have

cut to t your door and ignition system. Carry it with you in case you lose yourregular set o keys. Available at many lock and key shops.

Wheel LckWheel locks are an inexpensive way to prevent the thet o your vehicles wheels

and tires.

Wdw flWindow Film can increase the strength o your side and rear windows.

Etchg Wdw Gl

Etching the Vehicle Identication Number (VIN) into your window glass is a way o keeping the vehicle rom bestolen or the glass parts.

Lckg G CA Locking Gas Cap prevents thieves rom stealing the gas or relling the gas tanki they steal the vehicle. For added convenience, many o the locking gas caps with

combination access also provide a locked place to hide the vehicles extra set o keys.

Br LckBar locks attach to the steering wheel and block the ability to steer the vehicle.They can also stop the thet o the air bag. This tool can be enhanced with theuse o a shield that makes it more dicult to cut the steering wheel and remove

the bar lock.

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aLaRm sysTEmsThese can have many eatures. Some o these eatures are: Keylessentrythatenablesyoutoopenandlockthevehiclewhilearmingordisarmingthesystem.Itcouldalsoa

you to open the trunk remotely. Electricscanpreventionstopstheuseofscanningtoolstoduplicateyourremotessignal.

Built-inkillswitchthatdisablestheignitionorcutsoffthefuelsupply.

Aloudhornorsirenthatcanbeactivatedfromtheremote.Thisactsasapanicalarm.

Animpactsensorthatsetsoffthealarmbeforetheglassbreaks.

Aproximitysensorthatwarnspeoplewhentheygettooclosetothevehicle.

Ahoodsensorthatsoundsthealarmifsomeoneistamperingwiththehood.

Aremotenoticationdevicethattellsownerifthealarmisgoingoff.

anTi-THEfT DEViCEsEge Dbler r Kll swtch

This well hidden switch is installed so when turned on, itcuts power to your starter.

fuel swtch

When turned on, this mechanism stops the fow o uel

rom the uel pump so the car will only go a short distanceand then quit.

arr Cllr

A metal shield that locks around your steering column,which prevents tampering with the ignition switch or

starting mechanism. This prevents hot-wiring a carbecause the area is inaccessible.

Hd Lck

Hood locks prevent a thie rom stealing parts under the

hood or disconnecting anti-thet devices.

Te Del swtch

This is a power cut-o device which, unless a switcturned o, will disable your car shortly ater its starte

Te Del igt

This device will activate your ignition only ater a pr

time has passed. There is no way to activate the igni

beore the preset time has elapsed.

Clutch d Brke Lck

This mechanism, used only on manual transmis

vehicles, locks the brake pedal and the clutch ptogether so one cant be operated without the other.

Brke Lck o Hdrulc ste

This is a mechanism which, when activated, locks onour brakes and makes it dicult to move or tow the

even i the engine is started.

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Crime Reduction Canada wishes to acknowledge the sponsorship of

www.IDTjustice.comWithout their generous sponsorship, the Crime Reduction Canada web site would be not be possible.

This document was prepared as a public service by Crime Reduction Canada.

www.CrimeReductionCanada.com

AnLEDwarninglightthatnotiesacarthiefthatyouralarmisactivated.

Remotestartingdevicesthatwill allowyoutowarmupyourvehicleinthecoldwithoutthe threatofsome

stealing it.

More expensive alarm systems can include: Remotecontrolofthevehicle:Ifthedriverdoesnotenteracodebeforestarting,thealarmcompanyisalerted

tracks the vehicle. With this system, the police can shut o the vehicle so the thieves cant escape. It also allowsowner to call the alarm company and shut o the car in case o a carjacking.

Thistechnologyallowstheownertocallandhavethedooropenedorthevehiclestartedanywhereinthewor Itwilltellyouwhereyouarewithin10feetofyourexactlocationandgiveyoudirectionsonhowtogettoy

destination.

Beore you buy an alarm system, contact your insurance company. With the right eatures, you may qualiy odiscount.

TRaCKinG DEViCEsThere are a number o tracking devices on the market. While more expensive than other vehicle protection dev

their extremely high recovery rate makes them a worthwhile investment. Devices currently available in Caninclude:

Lojackhttp://www.lojack.com/

OnStarhttp://www.onstar.com/canada_english/jsp/index.jsp(On selected 2009 models, OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown will allow advisors working with law enorcem

services to send a signal to limit uel fow to the engine, gradually slowing down the stolen vehicle and protecinnocent bystanders and police rom potential injuries resulting rom a dangerous high speed pursuit.)

Boomerang Trackinghttp://www.boomerangtracking.com/index.aspx?lang=EN-CA

Networkcarhttp://www.networkcar.com/networkcar/pub/main

HELpinG poLiCE RECoVER yoUR sToLEn VEHiCLE1. Dont keep your vehicle ownership, identication, or credit cards in your car. Keep them in your possessio

you loan your vehicle to anyone, give them a photocopy o the vehicle registration to carry with them while uyour vehicle.

2. Hide your business cards or address stickers with your name in places such as under the hood o your car under the foor mats or seats. Also drop them in window channels inside the doors. Another option is etch

your VIN number on one or more windows.

3. I you have a tracking device instal led in your vehicle, be sure to keep contact inormation in your possession. sooner your vehicle can be located, the better the chances o it being recovered intact.

4. Be sure to call 911 and report your car stolen as soon as possible. Also, be willing to assist in prosecution.