Auto Theft Safety Tips for Crime Prevention Month

CAPE GIRARDEAU, OCTOBER 21 -- October is National Crime Prevention Month and drivers have some good news: fewer Americans were victims of car thefts last year. The FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report shows a 7.2 percentage decrease in auto thefts in 2010 across the U.S. Improved anti-theft devices and safety tips can help Missouri continue this downward trend. According to the FBI statistics in 2010 Cape Girardeau county had 15 auto thefts, Bollinger County 6, Perry county 10 and Scott county had only 5.

With the same persistence, Ford is aggressively improving anti-theft technologies to keep vehicles secure for all customers," said Bob Neff of Ford Groves. "Our goal is to improve safety and if that slows down would-be thieves here in the Cape Girardeau area, Ford customers benefit as well."

Unfortunately, potential thieves will not give up on their efforts to steal your car. But with the same persistence, Ford is constantly improving technologies and methods to keep vehicles secure for its customers.

Ford provides several technologies to better protect your investment:

* Remote Keyless Entry allows locking/unlocking at the push of a button

* Passive Entry-Passive Start allows for unlocking and engine starting remotely

* Intrusion sensing system deters against smash-and-grab thefts

* Immobilizer helps prevent drive-away thefts

* Panic alarm draws attention quickly in case of danger

* Perimeter Alarm System deters against unauthorized entry via doors, hood and trunk/liftgate.

Despite significant and ongoing improvements in security features, no system is foolproof. The goal of each preventative measure is to deter theft by making it more difficult for thieves to steal your vehicle.

For increased protection, Ford dealers also provide additional anti-theft safety services:

* Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching on windows and other surfaces: VIN etching makes vehicles less attractive to thieves because all windows must be replaced before the vehicle can be tagged with a fake VIN and resold

* Installation of wheel locks, which help protect against wheel theft by requiring a special key to unlock the lug nuts

* Installation of LoJack -- a vehicle tracking system that helps police locate and recover vehicles

Everyday things you can do to protect against theft:

You might think most stolen vehicles are expensive sports cars or multipurpose passenger vehicles, but that's not always the case.

It also doesn't matter whether you live in a big city, the suburbs or in the country; anyone is susceptible to vehicle theft.

In fact, 40 to 50 percent of vehicle theft is due to driver error, which includes leaving vehicle doors unlocked and leaving keys in the ignition or on the seats.

But there are measures you can take to make sure your vehicle is not an easy target for thieves:

* First, always take your keys; never leave them in or on your vehicle

* Always close and lock all windows and doors when you park

* Park in well-lit areas

* Keep your vehicle in your garage, if possible

* Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially where they can be seen

* Never leave the area while your vehicle is running

No matter which way the motor vehicle theft trend moves in years to come, Ford will continue to ensure its vehicles have the best anti-theft technology available to customers.

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