How safe do you think your car sits in that parking lot all day while you’re at work? What about sitting outside your house, even? The truth is that without an anti-theft device installed in your car, it is never really safe. A recent study showed that every 25 seconds someone’s vehicle is reported stolen. That adds up to 1.2 million robberies each year. One of those cars can be yours below.

So you need to decide if the extra money you invested to buy a car alarm system is a worthwhile investment compared to losing your car. This is the only question. Next, you are faced with questions like, which car security system should you buy? Which will protect you better?

A professional car thief can and will steal any car, if he wants it bad enough. Your job is to at least make them work hard if they plan on trying to steal yours. Law enforcement officials recommend using common sense combined with good anti-theft devices to thwart thieves.

There are many different anti-theft devices out there. Here are some tips to help you protect your car:

• First of all, think about where you usually park your car at home and at work. If your alarm went off, would you or anyone else hear or notice it? If it were to break out, would it just be ignored?
• A great way to deter would-be thieves is to purchase a heavy-gauge steering wheel lock or tire locks. They will run you between $100 and $200, but it is well worth the cost with peace of mind. Another trick is to use indicator lights or window stickers that give the impression that the car has an alarm installed.
• Do some research on how effective certain theft prevention measures really are. If someone is determined enough to get into your car, they will find a way. Certain systems just make it more difficult, like cutting out certain steering immobilizers or turning off the alarm.
• What are some of the ranges of anti-theft systems you are looking at? The most popular systems include options such as audible alarms, a concierge system, or cellular alarms that notify the police. Other systems you will find include locking steering wheel covers, steering column covers, locking steering wheel bars, kill switches, fuel system locks, tracking devices, and retarding devices.
• How much protection are you looking for? Make an assessment of how far you are willing to go and how much you are willing to spend. You will find that some alarms, reasonably priced in the $150 to $1,000 range, will arm automatically. Some alarms come equipped with tracking devices and are priced from $400 to $1,500. These types of systems help locate the car if it is stolen. Steering wheel locks and column locks are cheaply priced, but they must be manually placed each time.
• Create a budget of how much you are willing to spend now and in the future for any additional costs. Cheaper anti-theft devices like mechanical immobilizers don’t need to be professionally installed, but you won’t get the best deterrent system either.
• Cheaper, low-tech anti-theft systems can be found at almost any auto parts store or even in the automotive section of a major retailer. However, for more sophisticated alarms, your best bet is to find a stereo store or parts store that specializes in automotive electronics such as sound systems, alarms, and radar detectors. They can even do the installation for you there.
• Once you have successfully installed your new alarm system, call your insurance company to see if you are now eligible for any discounts.