AUTO
CONTENTS
Security Savvy
Griffit's
Travels
Putting the lock on auto theft
ELIZABETH SCHEIBNER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
I f your car or truck has never
been vandalized or stolen,
consider yourself lucky.
According to the FBI,
more than 4,300 cars are stolen
every day in the United States at
an alarming rate of about one
every 20 seconds — or 1.6 million
a year. Millions more are van-
dalized or stripped.
And if that isn't bad enough,
consider the fact that fewer than
14 percent of these crimes ever
result in an arrest.
Although no car or truck is im-
mune from theft, there are ways
to make it more difficult for a
thief to tamper with your vehicle.
A car that is completely unpro-
tected can be stolen within 30 sec-
onds, which is why experts say
your best defense is to equip your
car with a variety of security de-
vices.
That way, if one device fails,
you are at least protected by an-
other line of defense.
There are many anti-theft de-
vices to choose from, ranging in
price from a $30 ignition-door lock
set to over $2,000 for a sophisti-
cated alarm system. Most insur-
ance companies will give you a
discount if your car is equipped
with some sort of anti-theft de-
vice. This could mean a 5 percent
to 25 percent savings on your in-
surance premiums.
JOIN THE CLUB
Perhaps the most publicized
and talked about anti-theft de-
vice is The Club, which was in-
troduced in 1986 by Winner
International. The Club is a large
metal bar that locks across the
steering wheel, preventing the
wheels from turning.
Although The Club has re-
ceived the endorsement oflaw en-
forcement officials and security
experts, it is not 100 percent fool-
proof. Thieves have been known
to cut the steering wheel with a
hacksaw or bolt cutter and re-
move The Club.
The main value of The Club is
that it serves as a deterrent. Giv-
en the choice between a car with
a Club and one without, thieves
will almost always break into the
most accessible car.
The Club is backed by a one-
year guarantee. If your car is
stolen while the Club is properly
installed, the manufacturer will
reimburse you for up to $500 on
the insurance deductible. The
Club sells for about $60 and is
available in most auto parts
stores and retail chains.
For those concerned with aes-
thetics, The Club now comes in a
wide range of designer colors.
A new type of security device
called the Mul-T-Lock Car Trans-
mission Lock now offers car own-
ers a powerful weapon in the war
against auto theft.
Originally developed in Israel,
this new anti-theft device has
protected millions (Scars in more
than 27 countries. Internation-
al car rental agencies such as
Avis and Budget routinely use
Mul-T-Lock in Europe and South
America.
Mul-T-Lock works by locking
your transmission firmly in place,
making your car impossible to
move. The device is mounted on
the gearshift of an automatic or
manual transmission and is
locked into place with a tempered
steel shackle that fits around the
gearshift level. The unit is an-
Israeli artist Joshua Griffit.
that specializes in security de-
vices.
Select an alarm that will be
triggered as soon as a door, hood
or trunk is opened. The best
kinds of alarms are those with
electronic motion sensors.
You may want to consider in-
vesting in added features such as
pressure-sensitive pads in the
seats and under carpeting, glass-
breakage detectors and paging
systems. Wheel locks also are
good items to have if you own ex-
pensive wheels.
If you're looking for an alter-
native to the standard alarm, Di-
rected Electronics, a
California-based manufacturer
of vehicle alarms, offers a state-
of-the-art system called Viper,
which can sense a human pres-
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chored by a steel rod that is bolt-
ed to the car's chassis.
Because the unit is made of
drill- and pick-resistant case-
hardened steel, the Mul-T-Lock
has been found to be virtually im-
possible to saw or cut. For
added security, the patented lock-
ing design relies on a special key
that can only be duplicated at an
authorized Mul-T-Lock lock-
smith.
ARMED WITH AN ALARM
Alarms are another way to pro-
tect your car. In most cases, a
good alarm system can be bought
and installed for less than $400,
although a high-tech system can
set you back $1,000 or more.
There are two types of alarm
systems: Active systems require
you to set the alarm yourself
while passive systems switch on
automatically after you remove
the key or lock the doors.
Experts advise that you avoid
factory-installed alarms. Repair
manuals that detail how these
systems work are available in
most libraries and are often stud-
ied by professional car thieves.
Your best bet is to purchase an
alarm system from a company
ence and issue a verbal warning.
For about $600, you can opt for
one of the sophisticated vehicle-
recovery systems that can track
down your car after it has been
stolen, leading police to its loca-
tion.
Here's how it works: A small
transmitter (about the size of
a finger) is hidden in one of
about 35 locations in your car. If
your car is stolen, you call the po-
lice and they issue a stolen car re-
port. 111
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By Julie Candler
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Cover Photo from The National Covette Museum
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