Combating Auto Theft Season With Awareness

More vehicles are taken during July and August than at any time of the year, claims an infographic made by LoJack. The hassle is part of the sixth yearly National Vehicle Theft Protection Month.

Includes LoJack

LoJack, the manufacturer of after-market automobiles security equipment, is in cahoots with the International Association of Car Theft Investigators in the awareness effort.

Theft stats revealed

Some of the alarming statistics displayed on the LoJack inforgraphic (see link below) are:

1. Auto thieves cost the nation around $4.5 billion a year. 2. In 2010, there was only an average of 42.8 seconds between vehicle thefts in the U.S. That's a total of 737,000 for the year. 3. The most stolen cars are ordinary ones like the Honda Accord, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Camry. However, 10 percent of all Corvettes made between 1981 and 2011 have been stolen. 4. Christmas Day is the holiday with the most auto thefts.

All from one important study

Between April and May of 2012, there were 4,500 vehicle owners in four major cities surveyed by LoJack. About sixty-eight percent said they were willing to leave their vehicle while running unattended or leave the vehicle parked and unlocked. Those are bad practices for preventing theft. About 80 percent said they stress about car theft, but only about a third actually did anything to prevent car theft from occurring.

How identity theft relates

There is a link between car theft and identity fraud as well. In fact, 64 percent of people admit they put their home address in their GPS device, making it easier for thieves to find your home. A third of the respondents said that they have left personal info in an electronic device or on printed documents in plain sight in the car. These are bad habits for identity fraud.

Thievery can be avoided

There are a ton of things consumers should do to defend themselves from car theft, even though car theft numbers dropped in 2011, according to the FBI.

LoJack explained a few "common sense" rules that motorists should always be following. It claims:

"Never leave keys in the vehicle with the engine running. Don't hide a spare key in the vehicle. Close all windows and lock all doors when leaving your vehicle. Park in a well-lit area and, when at home, keep your vehicle in the garage. Don't leave valuables visible in your car, particularly those items that include information on your identity."

Consumers are encouraged by the company to buy its product that prevents theft and has recovery tracking systems in them.