Protecting your car from auto theft
While you may be worrying about your car’s gas mileage, and or thinking about a new paint job, there’s something else you might want to keep in mind. Technology in car protection is constantly improving, and one of your first priorities when thinking about your car is its safety. What would happen if someone tried breaking into your car? Would you be informed? Would they be able to start the car? These are some things you might want to look into when choosing your car’s safety.
You might have the infamous sound alarm. Upon disturbance, these will emit a loud, often continuous cacophony, consisting often of the car’s horn, various noises, and sometimes a prerecorded voice. The effectiveness of this is that a criminal doesn’t want to get caught. The instant your alarm goes off, the vandal or thief will likely go running. While you may not catch the crook, your will be where you left it, hopefully without a scratch.
Arming and disarming the alarm can be rather easy. Often, it involves the keys, and the driver can manually shut off the alarm by placing their key in the door. They may also be able to disengage the alarm from a button, usually attachable to the keys. There is also sometimes a button hidden inside the car to override the alarm.
How the alarm is triggered depends on the make and model of your vehicle. There are also many after market alarms, which can be purchased and installed after buying your car. These can be set off from opening the doors or trunk, and also when the hood is opened, or the ignition is turned on. They can also be triggered by an impact to the car, or a difference in voltage in the car, though the latter has become less useful, as car technology is starting to incorporate more electronics into vehicles.
Sirens and alarms, however, are not entirely effective. Some people might be able to get away with the car before you can get to it. Also, due to the number of alarms set off by accident in the past, people in urban areas are generally not prone to respond to a car alarm. So, what’s another good security precaution? Car immobilizers!
Car immobilizers are devices that prevent an unauthorized person in your car from driving away with it. It can prevent hotwiring, because the car will only start when the correct key is inserted. This is because the key contains a miniature circuit, and that will connect the electricity in the car. These have proven so efficient, that they are mandatory in all new cars in several nations, since as early as 1997.
In some cases, attempts to use the car will be reported through satellite or mobile phone. Some people might even try using a unauthorized copy of the key, but while that will not be sequenced, the car will still not start, and the report will be made. These immobilizers, like the alarms, can be purchased post-market, for older cars, which tend to be candidates for small auto theft.
The price of these security measures depends on where you get them, and how efficient they are. But, regardless of the cost, it’s a definite investment to have one installed into your car. You’re pouring the money into your car for insurance, gas, and tune ups anyway, and this is surely just as important as the other things.
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