Did you know that a car is stolen in the United States every 26 seconds?* And that vehicle thefts cost Americans approximately $7.6 billion each year?*
Numbers like that are hard to ignore. But there are many things you can do to protect your car from being stolen. And the best part is, Allstate has anti-theft discounts that reward you for doing it!
The number one thing you can do is always lock your car when you park it. If given the choice between a locked car and an unlocked car, a thief will usually choose the easier path.
Beyond that, there are a number of anti-theft devices you can equip your car with.
Alarm - There are many types of alarms, some make loud noises, some silently notify authorities.
Locking Mechanisms - These types of devices lock the steering wheel, ignition or even the doors if someone who's not supposed to be driving your car tries to start it.
Recovery Systems - Homing devices and having the VIN etched in your windows helps the police recover your vehicle and return it to you if a thief does make off with your car.
Fuel Cut-Off Devices - If someone starts your car and this anti-theft device is armed, the fuel to the engine is cut-off, making it so your car can't go anywhere.
On top of offering discounts to encourage people to equip their cars with anti-theft devices, Allstate has also donated Bait Cars to law enforcement agencies around the country.
These specially equipped vehicles are outfitted with advanced technology and used by local law enforcement to catch car thieves in action. Bait cars look just like any other car, but they have hidden security features to remotely monitor any theft and disable the vehicle so that the car stops and locks the thief inside.