LoJack Provides Vehicle Theft Protection Tips for President's Day Car Shoppers

What: President's Day weekend is considered the beginning of New England's car buying season and scores of shoppers will hit the lots in search of great deals on new and used cars. While getting the best price is clearly a top priority when purchasing a vehicle, next in line should be doing everything possible to protect that vehicle from today's sophisticated thieves. That's why LoJack Corporation is issuing its three-step approach to theft protection (below).

Who:

Theft prevention expert Patrick Clancy, Vice President of Law Enforcement for LoJack and former police sergeant, is available for interviews and offers the following advice: "A vehicle is typically one of the largest purchases people make in their lives (second only to their home) and, as such, consumers need to do everything possible to keep that new vehicle safe from today's clever thieves. Theft protection starts with common sense - don't leave your car running, park in a well-lit spot and never hide a key in or on your vehicle. Then, car owners need to use the right theft protection devices to beat thieves at their own game."

Tips:

What Can Consumers Do to Keep Their Vehicles Safe? By combining common sense approaches, theft prevention devices and tracking/recovery systems, consumers can protect their vehicles from theft.

The first important step: Use Common Sense Measures. Never leave keys in the car 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 car in the garage. Don't leave valuables visible in your car.

The second step: Use Theft Prevention Products. A thief is less inclined to steal your car if it has visible and audible warning devices like a wheel lock or alarm system. Immobilizers-which include smart keys, kill switches and fuel cut-off devices-offer another means of protection.

The third step: Use a Tracking and Recovery System. Since thieves can disarm most theft prevention devices, recovery systems provide the peace of mind that you'll get your car back-often quickly-in the event it is stolen. The most effective systems are directly integrated into law enforcement and use radio frequency technology, which has proven to be optimal for recovering stolen assets.

For more information on theft prevention, please visit LoJack's Knowledge Center for Vehicle Security at www.lojack.com and click on the "Get the Facts on Vehicle Theft" button.