You Can Help to Prevent Classic Car Theft

Classic cars have been a popular target of car thieves for decades, but you can help to prevent classic car theft. Classics are popular with thieves because:

They are (usually) easier to break into and steal than new cars
They are harder to track down/identify by licensing authorities when they are stolen
Their parts are valuable
There is a strong international market for classic US cars

What is a classic car enthusiast to do? While you can certainly install a modern security system and/or a vehicle location system, there are some simple things every classic owner can do to protect their ride.

For the most part it is generally simple things you can do to keep your classic where it belongs.

Prevention Scenario

It is a perfect spring day, so you opt to drive your classic car on a series of local errands. Lunch out is part of the plan, but exiting the restaurant, your car is not where you remember parking it. Assuming a mental lapse, you check nearby spots, but soon reality – laced with a bit of panic – sinks in. Your car has been stolen, but what could you have done differently to prevent this?

First, let us establish one absolute: If a motivated professional car thief wants your particular car or truck, there’s very little you can do about it. Using a flatbed wrecker, snatching a car takes just a minute or two, and alarms are not much of a deterrent these days (particularly in urban areas or large parking lots, where car alarms are just part of the background noise). What we can do, however, is make our car as unattractive to thieves as possible, and below are five things we have found to be effective over the years.

Join The Bureau of Justice “Watch Your Car” Program

Most US police officers and border patrol agents know and recognize this sticker.

Unbelievably, there is a federally sponsored anti-theft program in the United States that is available in many states called “Watch Your Car.” The concept is simple – you put a slightly conspicuous sticker in the front and rear windows of your car, and that sticker tells any law enforcement officer that your car does not usually travel late at night and/or across national borders.

Many states have “Watch My Car” programs, and both local officers and border patrol officers are trained to look for this sticker. If they see this sticker on a car crossing a border or driving in the wee hours of the morning, they can pull the car over and verify vehicle ownership.

To enroll your car, just contact your local police department or state patrol and ask about a “Watch Your Car” sticker program. Enrollment is usually free or cheap.

Keep It Garaged

A car in a closed and locked garage is hard to steal. First, it is hard for thieves to steal a car that they cannot see driving down the road. Second, even if they get into the garage, they have to get it open and get the car out without being caught. That is a lot of “stuff” that has to go just right in order to be successful. Keep garage blinds or shades closed. Not only will this block prying eyes, but it will also limit the effect of sunlight on your car. Cover your car. You will keep it hidden and protect the paint and upholstery.

For most thieves, stealing a car out of a garage is just too hard to justify. It is much easier to poach a car that is parked in someone’s driveway or parked out on the street.

Lock the Doors and Take the Keys

The number of vehicles stolen because their owners decided to leave them unlocked with the keys “hidden” under the mat or in the visor (as if no thief would look in these places) is nothing short of astonishing. According to the National Highway Safety and Transportation Administration, 40-50% of car thefts occur because drivers forget to lock up and leave the keys in the car!

Often, classic owners decide to leave their vehicle unlocked, the thinking being that they do not want thieves to damage the vehicle trying to enter it. While there are some positives to this approach, there is no getting around the fact that your door locks are a theft prevention mechanism. If you leave the doors open, your vehicle is a little easier to take.

Get an Alarm Sticker

A sticker indicating that your vehicle is equipped with some sort of anti-theft device or tracking device is a simple, low-cost security precaution. A car thief may think twice about boosting a car that sports a simple little understated sticker. The more “official” looking the sticker, the better.

Of course, if you have an alarm system, that is even better. But this is easy, cheap, and simple, so it is on our list of tips.

Do not Leave Valuables Out

So called ‘smash and grab’ thefts are common but easily prevented.

These days, we carry a lot of valuable electronics with us everywhere we got (iPods, tablets, phones, laptops, GPS units, etc.) An iPad that’s plainly visible resting in the backseat – or a plainly visible laptop bag behind the front seat – are tempting to petty criminals who feel confident they can break into an older vehicle. Stolen electronics are easy to sell on eBay or Craigslist, and some older cars are quite easy to break into.

The solution? Lock everything out of sight or in the trunk when you leave your car in a parking lot. Even if you are just running into the coffee shop or gas station quick, put your gear out of site. Petty thieves will not mess with your car if they do not see any obvious benefits to doing so.

Maintain a Tidy and Clean Ride

This tip might sound weird, but there’s logic to it. Thieves are looking for cars that are not likely to have alarms, which are not likely to have fancy GPS trackers, etc. If your vehicle looks clean, tidy, and well cared for, thieves are more likely to believe the car has some sort of protection.

While most classic car owners strive to keep their vehicles tidy and clean, it is a crucial point to remember if you are driving a rat rod and/or if you are parking your mid-project vehicle in a public place. A thief could easily mistake a car waiting on some paint and body work for a poorly maintained car no one will miss.

Park in a Good Place

Avoid alleyways, questionable-looking parking areas, areas with little or no traffic (driving or foot traffic), and areas that are poorly lit. If you are going somewhere and unsure about parking, for example, it might be a good idea to leave your classic at home.

You should try to park in a garage with security, a private garage, or in a well-lit public place with lots of traffic. If you need to leave your classic somewhere and you are in a bind, grocery store and large parking lots are pretty safe when security is present. Grocery stores are busy about 24 hours a day (at least in larger cities).

Crank Your Wheels and Remove the Steering Wheel

It might sound extreme, but it is easy to remove a steering wheel on older vehicles, and it is an excellent theft prevention tool, as it means a potential thief is going to have to tow your vehicle if they want it. Of course, if you crank your wheels before you remove the steering wheel, towing your vehicle becomes that much more difficult.

It is the little things, right?

Drive a Manual Transmission

It is a sad situation when many self-respecting car thieves do not know how to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, but here we are. Survey after survey shows that many US drivers do not know how to drive a stick shift. Somewhere between 40% and 50% of all drivers have no idea how to drive a stick, and a good percentage more do not feel comfortable driving a stick. Odds are good that many thieves do not know how to drive stick shifts as well.

If you drive a classic car with a manual transmission, you are cutting the number of crooks who could even drive it down. No one is going to try to drive a manual transmission in a getaway vehicle!

Always Be Situationally Aware

If a situation does not “feel right,” listen to that inner voice that is raising the red flag. That flatbed truck cruising the parking lot is looking to help a stranded motorist – but why doesn’t it have a local business name and telephone number on the cab? Ditto for the car or truck slowly cruising the lot, passing ample open parking spaces; maybe they’re just waiting for someone to come out of a store. Or maybe they’re not. Most car thefts occur at night, so always park in a well-lit area, preferably one with visible security cameras and high foot traffic. At a hotel, it may be reassuring to park where your car is visible outside the room, even if this means a longer walk to the lobby or elevators.

Consider A Hidden Kill Switch, Or at The Very Least, A Battery Disconnect

As with all things electrical, it is best to work with a shop that knows what they are doing, and have a hidden switch professionally installed (this is particularly important on cars equipped with air bags, as picking the wrong wire could potentially trigger them). A kill switch that cuts the ignition will prevent the car from being started, and one that cuts power to the fuel pump (assuming this is electric) will limit how far it can be driven. The cheapest and easiest method is to install a simple battery disconnect, which can be unscrewed or otherwise removed when the car is parked. On more modern cars, this is likely to play hell with radio and clock settings, but some disconnects feature a battery backup to power these systems (but not the vehicle’s starter). Keep in mind that these will not do a thing to prevent your car from being towed, but they may be enough to prevent joy riders from swiping your car.

Make It as Inconvenient as Possible for Thieves to Choose Your Car

A visible aftermarket steering wheel lock can be defeated by a professional thief but doing so takes time. If his choice is your car, equipped with such a device, or another car without, which is the easier target? There is no end to the security options here, up to and including clamp locks for the wheels which prevent the car from being moved, pedal locks, etc. The key is striking a tolerable balance between your convenience and a potential thief’s inconvenience.

Consider Installing a Vehicle Tracker

Years ago, Lojack was the primary option for recovering a stolen vehicle, but today inexpensive GPS tracking systems can be purchased online. It pays to do some research here, to determine for yourself which system best suits your needs, expectations, and budget. Should your car be stolen, never attempt to recover it on your own, but instead provide police with as much detail as possible. It is hard to top a real-time location.

Beware Where You Keep Your Keys

Storing a vehicle in your garage with the keys in the ignition, or above the visor, may help in the event of an emergency (such as a garage fire), but it is also an open invitation to thieves. The same holds true for a visible key rack at home, which is likely the first place a thief will look. Spare keys should be kept in a home safe, or at the very least a locking box. To minimize the danger from a garage fire, park cars with the wheels pointing out the garage door and keep a slotted screwdriver handy to override an automatic transmission lock. Even without a key, many console shifters can be placed in neutral using a slotted screwdriver, allowing the vehicle to be rolled out of a burning garage (check your owner’s manual to verify if this applies to your particular make and model).Here’s a warning to owners of new cars with proximity keys: The radio signal from your key can be cloned by thieves, allowing them to steal a car from your driveway without a key. If you own such a vehicle, keeping the key in an RFID-proof container when not in use can help prevent such thefts.

Finally

If modifying your car is not an option for you do not fret. Keeping a thief from starting your car can keep them from taking it. Try one of these low-tech methods to secure your car such as, steering wheel lock like “The Club” (may be old school but it works), brake pedal lock, remove the ignition rotor, distributor cap or high-tension lead, remove the fuel pump fuse, and even disconnecting the battery cable. We hope you have never fallen victim to car thieves, but some prevent can go a long way to prevent classic car theft. If it does happen having the proper classic car insurance is the important back stop to your headache.