Auto
Theft Reduction
Your Vehicle is important to you.
When it’s stolen, it not only causes you great inconvenience
and expense, but also usually results in higher insurance rates,
property damage, and may even involve injury or loss of life
from resulting collisions. By following these important suggestions,
you may deter a thief from stealing your vehicle. You hold the
key to preventing vehicle theft.
Why are vehicles stolen?
- To
sell it in its entirety for parts. Thieves may take your
vehicle out of the province or even the country
- Used
for transportation and then abandoned
- Thieves
may use it in other crimes, like robberies or break and
enters
- Stolen
vehicles may be given a false identification number and
sold to unsuspecting persons
- Used
in insurance fraud, e.g., the owner has the vehicle stolen
and sold, takes a portion of the sale money and puts in
a false claim with the insurance company.
Reducing
the chance of vehicle theft
- Parking your vehicle: Turn off the ignition and take the keys with you. Never
leave your keys, even for a few seconds.
- Park in a well-lighted and attended area, if possible
- Lock all parcels or valuables in the trunk, out of sight
Lock doors and windows
- Turn the wheels to one side to make it difficult to tow
- Never leave the vehicle with the engine left running. A quick
run into the cleaners, the store or for any reason while
leaving your engine running gives thieves the opportunity
to steal your vehicle.
When
at home:
- If
you have a garage, use it and lock your car
- If
you have a front-wheel drive model, park it front end first
- If
you have a rear-wheel drive model, back it in
- Always
set the emergency brake
- Never
leave ownership or license documents in the car
- Drop
a business card or address label down the door panels to
assist police with the vehicle’s identification
- Never
hide a spare key anywhere in or on your vehicle. Thieves
know where to look
- Never
attach vehicle identification or an address label to the
keys
- Be
aware of surroundings when driving, and keep all doors
locked
- When
you’re buying a used vehicle, if the deal sounds too good
to be true, then it probably is!
Record
in a safe place……
- Year,
make, model and colour of your vehicle
- License
and vehicle identification numbers
- Serial
numbers of any special equipment
- Any
dents or scratches that make your vehicle different from
others
If
your vehicle is stolen……
- Report
it immediately to the police
- Provide
police with identification or specific information about
the vehicle or stolen valuables
Join
the Combat Auto Theft Program (CAT):
- You
agree to have your vehicle stopped by police if it is being
operated during certain hours of the night. Call the Halton
Regional Police for information.
Invest in vehicle protection
You
may want to consider purchasing anti-theft devices. Here
are some suggestions.
- Ignition
kill switch— toggle
switch spliced into ignition that disables your vehicle
- Fuel
Kill Switch—switch spliced into fuel system wiring
that stops fuels supply to the engine
- Steering
Wheel Lock—stops the steering wheel from turning
- Gearshift
Lock—disables shifting transmission
- Tire/Wheel
Locks— tool wraps around tires/ wheels to immobilize
vehicle
- Hood
Locks—stops anyone from opening hood
- Steering
Column Collar— protects steering column from ignition
entry
- Electronic
Alarms—those with “kill” switches are most effective
- Vehicle
Tracking System—transmitter in the vehicle allows
it to be tracked electronically.
If you want more details on crime proofing, contact the Halton Regional Police Service:
Oakville 905-825-4777 • Burlington 905-634-1831 • Milton 905-878-5511 • Georgetown 905-878-5511
Or if you have information,
call: Crime Stoppers
1-800-222-8477 Or 905-825-847
Remember, you hold the key to preventing vehicle theft.
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