Hartford Police Department
Major Crimes Division

Auto Theft Prevention Tips

Close all windows, lock all doors and take the keys with you.  In Connecticut, almost 25 percent of stolen vehicles had the keys in them.

Never hide a second set of keys anywhere on or inside your vehicle.  Thieves often rummage through a car before taking it.  They WILL find a hidden key.

Never leave your vehicle running, even if you will only be gone for a minute, or warming it up in your driveway; vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, driveways, and ATMs.

Park in well-lighted areas.  Over 70 percent of vehicle thefts occur at night.

Park in attended or heavy traffic lots.

Do not become complacent because you drive an older-model vehicle.  Older cars can be resold quickly or stripped for parts.  A vehicle's parts are worth two to three time the value of the car. 

Be sure your anti-theft devices are activated.

Owners who use a steering wheel lock like "The Club" are four times less likely to be a victim of auto theft.

Vehicles equipped with a Lojack anti-theft system have over a 90 percent chance of being recovered (compared to the national recovery average of 61 percent).  Hartford Police have several cruisers equipped with Lojack tracking capability, and have had great success in tracking and recovering vehicles quickly after they are reported stolen.

It is wise to have your ignition changed to a newer unit if you own a late 80's to early 90's Honda, Nissan, Acura, or Toyota product.  Weak ignitions in these vehicles are very easy to defeat.  These vehicles are very easy to defeat.  These vehicles account for over 70 percent of cars stolen in Hartford.

A hidden "fuel kill" ignition switch costs pennies and is a very effective method in disabling your vehicle.

Disable your battery terminal or ignition fuse when parking your car for extended periods of time.

Visit these links for more information on auto theft:
Insurance Institute Information
Statewide Auto Theft Task Force