How safe is your vehicle?

Vehicle security falls into two distinct categories that are both ideally addressed with the installation of an aftermarket alarm system. These 2 categories are com­plete vehicle theft and theft of contents within the vehicle.

Although most consumers never think they will be tar­geted, complete vehicle theft is a very large business in the United States. It is estimated that vehicles are stolen at a rate of one every 22 seconds which is about 1 out of every 147 vehicles. In 2006 1,192,809 vehicles were reported sto­len, only 59 percent of these vehicles were recovered. The average damage of the 703,757 recovered stolen vehicles was about $5,000 each, the esti­mated annual loss is about $7.6 billion.

It is very common for people to believe that their car is already protected, because they have an alarm system. However, this is far from the truth, as this article will explain.

Most factory alarm systems only protect against door locks being manually overridden, example “The coat hanger method.” There is no pro­tection for glass breakage, sudden impacts, and may not even include a starter kill feature (which would prevent the car from start­ing in the event of a break in.) Anything left on seats or in plain sight is highly susceptible to theft. Professional thieves will be prepared with a glass-breaking tool that is capable of shatter­ing your window nearly silently with a simple touch. The thief is then free to steal anything within reach and be on their way in seconds. Aftermarket alarms have many different sensors to protect against virtu­ally anything. A few of these sensors include; impact/ shock sensor which simply protects against sudden shock and impact, glass breakage sen­sor, motion/tilt sensor which protects against “tow-away theft”, and interior and exterior proximity sen­sors which will chirp a warning if a person even comes near your vehicle. Also most aftermarket alarms come with the ability to disable the vehicles starter when the alarm is engaged, this prevents “drive away theft.”

Other benefits of higher quality alarm systems are Remote starters, trunk release, and longer range capable key fobs. When considering pur­chasing an aftermarket alarm system it is crucial that you speak with a certified profes­sional installer about your con­cerns. The installation of the alarm system directly affects its ability to protect your vehicle so it is also critical that the installation is done by a certi­fied professional.

I offer on the spot alarm system/remote starter instal­lation and a pick up/drop off service. Most systems will take about 2 to 3 hours to install, depending on the vehicle and alarm system. Prices will vary according to the product selec­tion and vehicle, and the loca­tion of pick up or install. I am also able to offer aftermarket stereo system design and instal­lation. If you have any ques­tions, please contact me and I will do my best to help you. I offer the best combination of professional skills with honest and great service. You can have what you want or need and save money in the process.