Also alarming is the finding that there were , vehicle thefts with keys or fobs left in the vehicles between January 1, and December 31, According to the NICB , this represents a 56 percent increase in vehicle thefts with keys or fobs in the vehicle from the , vehicles stolen in this manner between January 1, and December 31, The to vehicles stolen works out to vehicles every day during those three years. The top five states with the most thefts with keys or fobs left in the vehicle during this period were California 31, , Florida 17, , Texas 15, , Ohio 12, and Nevada 11, The NICB also reports that thefts of catalytic converters, devices that convert the engine's environmentally hazardous exhaust into less harmful gasses, have been rising significantly.
In , there were 1, catalytic converter thefts reported, more than doubling to 3, in By they grew more than four-fold, soaring to 14, thefts, with December leading the way with 2, thefts, or roughly 16 percent of the yearly total. Catalytic converter theft repairs could cost thousands of dollars. Source: U. View Archived Tables Top 10 U. Vehicle Insurance. Property Insurance. Business Insurance. Additional Insurance. My Account. Claims and Roadside Help.
Tools and Resources. Web and Mobile. Contact Us. You are about to leave geico. When parked, never leave your keys in the car. Close all the windows and the sunroof. Never leave your car running and unattended. Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle where passersby can see them.
Do not leave your vehicle title in the car. Too often a car thief is pulled over and gets away from the police because he or she can produce the auto registration. If multiple drivers use the vehicle, the best suggestion would be to hide the registration in a secret location in the car that only the owners know.
Avoid known high crime areas even if the alternate route takes longer. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles if they know the cars can be recovered quickly. Many insurers offer discounts for the types of systems listed below. Fuller said 90 percent of the vehicles he's stolen came from him just scoping out the vehicle, finding the keys, and taking the vehicle.
Most importantly, Fuller said if he found a key to the car inside of it, it's not a felony. It's a misdemeanor, and I could take that vehicle, having a key to the vehicle that belongs to that vehicle," he said.
Valet keys usually can unlock the driver's side door and start the car, but can't unlock the trunk or the glove box. This key is normally used when someone else operates your vehicle, such as a valet parking attendant. For example, Fuller said the valet key might be found inside the owner's manual. In some BMW models, the valet key is usually in the car's tool kit in the trunk.
While most people don't know they have a valet key, car thieves do, and they use them to easily steal and drive away with a car. Most people believe that they can leave a little air in the car with the windows opened just a crack, but that no one can get in to the vehicle.
Engine immobilizers, on-board vehicle recovery devices, and sophisticated alarm systems have become standard fare in many automobiles in order to reduce the number of car break-ins.
Unfortunately, thieves have also become increasingly tech savvy, finding a plethora of fresh ways in which to get into our cars. Forget brute force. Modern day carjackers arm themselves with laptops and electronic gizmos to access our automobiles. Technology specialist Crutchfield lists a few key things when looking for the perfect automotive protection.
Here are a few of our favorites:. The most likely places for a car to be broken into are typically those where common sense tells you not to park. Unlit side alleys, shady parking garages, and unmonitored inner-city areas are all prime real estate for car thieves.
As a precaution, learn to avoid these areas, and always look for well-lit spots that have modern camera monitoring systems.
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