- In less than ten minutes, Allstate Insurance Company’s three-man Stripped in Seconds team can turn a car or truck into an empty shell and a pile of parts. The real bad guys can do it even faster.- A car is stolen in the United States every 33 seconds (according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau).
- With a screwdriver and as little as seven seconds, an auto thief can break into a vehicle. They can drive away in less than one minute.
- Many of the most commonly stolen cars are snatched for their parts – not the joyrides seen on TV or in the movies.- For many vehicles, the parts are worth more separately than the vehicle as a whole.
- Auto theft rates are among the things driving what we pay for car insurance.Allstate suggests seven simple steps that could make your car less of a target:
1. Lock your car and take your keys – One out of every five vehicles stolen had the keys in it, and almost half of all vehicles stolen were left unlocked.
2. Consider VIN etching - Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can easily be etched on windows, doors, fenders and other car parts. This makes it difficult for a thief to market your stolen car parts.
3. Don't hide a second set of keys in your car – Extra keys can easily be found if a thief takes time to look.4. Park in high foot traffic, well-lit areas – This is a deterrent to would-be thieves, and thieves do not like witnesses and often prefer unattended, unlit parking lots.
5. Roll up your windows - Always roll up your windows and lock the car, even if it is parked in front of your home.6. Don't leave your car running unattended – 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.
7. Hide your valuables – Don't make your car a more desirable target for thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.Call Johanna James at 610-584-6888 for an Insurance quote.
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