10/30/2024

Halloween Is a Scary Time for Car Theft

Protect your vehicle and your investment

Here's a frightening fact about which many are not aware: Halloween is one of the top days of the year for vehicle theft in the U.S. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau(NCIB), Halloween 2023 saw the third highest number of auto thefts out of 14 holiday dates the NCIB monitored.

"Vehicle owners should absolutely take extra caution on Halloween night," said Nicholas Zeitlinger, public affairs specialist for the NCIB.

Zeitlinger said there were 2,929 vehicle thefts reported across the U.S. on Halloween last year, far outpacing traditional holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. 

While Halloween may be "fright night" for thousands of car owners, you do not need to be one of them. There are steps you can take—and gear you should buy—to keep your vehicle from being stolen. Especially on Halloween, the NCIB reminds vehicle owners to:

• Secure your car. Never leave your vehicle running or unlocked—not even for a quick stop. Keep your keys on you at all times, even at gas stations, and roll up your windows before turning off your ignition.
• Use warning devices. Even the presence of warning devices like alarms, steering column collars, brake locks, and wheel locks can deter potential thieves.
• Use immobilizing devices. Many of today's cars are equipped with sophisticated safety features that prevent would-be thieves from hot-wiring cars or bypassing the ignition. These include smart keys, fuse cut-offs, and kill switches. Drivers of newer cars should learn how to use these modern features.
• Get tracking. Having some form of vehicle recovery system could be the difference between an irrevocable theft and a successful recovery. GPS trackers and even some dash cams can alert owners and track vehicle movement.

The Car & Driver Gear Team has tested dozens of anti-theft devices for cars.

Please select this link for a few of the team's favorites.