Locking out auto theft

by Terry Troy, Free lance Writer

Is it possible to manufacture a theft-proff automobile? Frank Scafidi, spokesperson for the National Insurance Crime Bureau in Talos Hills, Ill., doubts it. But he admits it might be getting a bit closer.

Scafidi's company, nationally recognized in the field of insurance fraud investigation, has some figures to back up his assertion.

"Preliminary data we have from the FBI for 2004 indicates that car theft nationally is down 2.6 percent," he says.

Having said that, he quickly adds that car theft was actually up in each of the preceding four years.

"even given that," Scafidi says, "we have the feeling the American driver may finally be getting the message. Our statistics show that the great preponderance of vehicle theftstake place because of driver carelessness. Leaving the car unlocked. Leaving keys in the ignition. Sometimes even leaving the enginge running. How helpful can you get? Those are actions that no anti-theft device can overcome."

But at the same time, Scafidi adds, more sophisticated anti-theft devices serve a valuable purpose. Their mere presence emphasizes the importance of driver care. One reason for Scafidi'sbasic optimism is that many car makersnow offer anti-theft devices as standard on new cars, rather than what was once an expensive option.

Daryl Kirchner, sales manager at Joe Firment Chevrolet on Route 57 in Lorain County, says that On Star positioning systems are now standard, at least for the first 12 months, on most Chevrolet models. While On Star doesn't in itself prevent theft, a vehicle so equipped can be tracked virtually anywhere on the globe, greatly speeding up vehicle recovery time. On Star simultaneously offers important driver safety features in notifying the authorities in the event of accident or breakdown.

More specific anti-theft devices are the so-called "Smart Keys." These ignition keys are equipped with an embedded computer chip. Without your personal key in the ignition, no gas can flow to the engine.

"It would take a master mechanic hours of effort to disconnect this system, so the car could not be hot-wired," Kirchner says.

And as any police department will tell you, professional car thiefs depend on getting your car going in 60 seconds.

According to Ed Babcock, owner and dealer principal of Junction Auto Group in Chardon OH, alarm systems are now standard on a number of Buick and Pontiac models, including the new Buick Lucerne. Such systems trigger a horn blast if any attempt is made to force entry.

Mike Kepich, service manager at Lakeshore Chevrolet in Cleveland OH, takes a very hands-on approach to antitheft devices.

"Back in the 70's, when I started out in this business, " Kepich says, "probably as much of our service time was taken by making repairs caused by auto theft. Today it's a very small margin of our business. As a matter of fact, in many instances, car thiefs have no intention of stealing the car itself. What they are after in many cases, is the sound system."

So GM has come up with what Kepich calls "Delco lock".

"Quite simply with Delco Lock, the sound system, if removed, will not function without its own power source, so the resale value of the sound system is nil."

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