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July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month

July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month

Did you know that over 1 million vehicles are stolen in the United States (2023)?

Yes, in 2023, more than 1 million vehicles were stolen in the United States—a 25% increase in vehicle theft totals over the previous few years. Vehicle theft is a multi-billion-dollar crime, costing vehicle owners more than $8 billion each year. Summers prove to be the worst season for vehicle theft. So, to help drivers keep their vehicles safe, NHTSA is continuing its annual Vehicle Theft Prevention Campaign during July — National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month.

Protect Your Ride

There are numerous antitheft systems and devices designed to make vehicles more difficult to steal or easier to trace and recover. Here are how some of them work:
  • Audible and Visible Devices: These devices, such as a horn alarm, deter theft by bringing attention to an unauthorized attempt to steal or enter a vehicle. Visible devices create a visual threat/warning/deterrence, such as the use of steering-wheel locks, as well as theft-deterrent decals, flashing lights, and window etching.
  • Immobilizing-Type Devices: These prevent thieves from bypassing a vehicle’s ignition system and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some incorporate computer chips in ignition keys or disable the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine.
  • Vehicle Recovery Systems: These devices use electronic transmission technology that help law enforcement reveal the location of stolen vehicles—and possibly catch the thief in the act.

For additional information, check out https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/vehicle-theft-prevention

 

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