Man gets back missing Corvette after 37 years
Here’s an amazing story I read from Autoblog:
Man gets his Corvette back after it was stolen 37 years ago
Pretty lucky that guy is, isn’t he?
Not all stories will have happy endings like this, though. More often than not, if you lose your vehicle to car theft, you can’t have too much hope of laying your eyes on it again. If it isn’t shipped to another state, country or continent, it may end up in the hands of a new owner (perhaps someone unaware that the car was stolen) who will probably end up “personalizing” your car - give it a whole new look, maybe even ordering new grill, bumpers or spoilers from your favorite online auto parts store Auto Parts Deal. Or worse, your beloved car will end up being chopped to pieces for its auto parts. Just thinking about it already breaks your heart, doesn’t it?
You can do something about it though. There are ways you can safeguard your car, truck or SUV from such terrible demise. Here’s how:
1. Never ever hide your keys in your car. This means removing the keys from above your Toyota Corolla’s sunvisor, from underneath the seat, from under the floor mat, and from any other places you currently hide them in your car. Criminals are lawbreakers, but they are certainly not stupid. Any spot that you may consider to be a safe place to hide your keys has already been thought of by a number of car thieves lurking around.
2. Always park your car with the windows closed and the doors locked, no matter where you may park it. This would be a good idea to follow even if you park your car in a locked garage. The harder it is for a thief to steal your car, the better your chances are at keeping what belongs to you!
3. Never leave valuables in your car. If you absolutely must have something valuable in your Volkswagen Passat, such as packages from a shopping trip you have just made, then don't leave them out in the open. Cover any valuables up with a coat, blanket, or other suitable camouflage.
4. If your car doesn't have one, install a mechanical burglar deterrent or an electronic burglar alarm. An example of a mechanical deterrent would be an item on the market which is called "The Club." This is a bar that locks over your steering wheel so that the car cannot be driven. There are many types of electronic burglar alarms as well as electronic deterrents on the market today that you can choose from. Some systems disable the ignition switch or the gas pedal from working.
5. Always park your car in areas that are well-lit at night. Avoid leaving your car in areas that are known to be high-crime areas, yet avoid parking your car in places that are desolate and not traveled much. If applicable, choose a parking lot that has an attendant rather than an unattended lot, if all possible.
6. Do not leave your car running at any time unless you are in the driver's seat. Thefts can and do occur easily when people leave their cars running. This can happen at a gas station, grocery store, or most anywhere you might leave your Honda Civic running for even a minute. This can even happen in your own driveway. You can be inside waiting for your Ford Explorer to warm up on a cold winter's day and a thief can take it. When you get out of your car, make sure the keys are in your hand and not somewhere, such as in the ignition, where a car thief can easily get hold of them.
7. Make sure your key ring does not have your car's license number, your name, or address, or the description of your car listed on it somewhere. When you get your Mazda 3 repaired, and give the mechanic a key to the ignition, they normally make your keys and put them on a key ring. People go ahead and use these marked key rings without realizing that if their keys are lost or stolen, it could give a thief an easier way to find the car that the keys belong to!
Remember, protecting your beloved investment is all up to you.
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