Car Security Systems

Auto security is an important issue for many people. In the United States, car theft occurs once every 20 to 25 seconds. Because of this growing problem, theft prevention, break-in prevention and stolen vehicle recovery are often at the top of car owners' list of precautions.

Car security systems can provide peace of mind for owners, help protect against damage or loss and even deter would-be car thieves. Many car security systems provide stickers for car windows that warn people that the car is alarmed.

Car security systems can include alarms that sound when a break-in is being attempted, features that won't allow the car to start once its threatened and even tracking devices that allow police to find a car quickly if it has been stolen.

In addition to car alarms, other anti-theft devices can help deter thieves and prevent car theft. These can be as simple as a Club device or other steering wheel lock. Tire locks are also popular anti-theft devices for cars. Companies like Viper Car Security produce numerous devices to deter and prevent car theft and break-ins.

Stolen vehicle recovery systems are often separate from basic car alarm systems. These typically include GPS trackers or the ever-popular LoJack system.

In this section, we'll cover all aspects of car security systems. We'll detail the types of car alarms, anti-theft devices and stolen vehicle recovery systems that can help you prevent your car from being stolen or broken into.

Car Alarms

Car alarms can be simple or complex and can fit most any budget. Most car alarms are activated and deactivated by a remote that people can attach to key rings. Car alarm types include:

• those activated bydoor sensor (and trunk sensor, in some cases): These alarms activate if a door or trunk is opened.
• those activated by pressure sensor: These alarms activate if the air pressure inside the car changes (This will happen if a window is broken or if a door is opened).
• those activated by shock sensor: These alarms activate if the car's body is moved or shaken.
  
• those activated by tilt sensor: These alarms will activate if a car is tilted to a certain degree (This is useful in the case thieves don't actually break into the car but try to load it onto a tow truck or cart it away in some other manner).
  
• those activated by window sensor: These alarms activate if a window is broken.

Most companies will offer packages that feature multiple or all of these features in their car alarms.

Car Anti-Theft Devices

In addition to car alarms, car anti theft devices can be effective at deterring and preventing car theft. Most car anti theft devices aim to lock the wheels of a car or the steering wheel to prevent a thief from driving away. The Club is one of the most popular and affordable types of car anti-theft devices.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery

Stolen vehicle recovery is an additional precaution that many car owners find useful. Stolen vehicle recovery uses computer chips or other technological methods to track a car that has been stolen.

LoJack and GPS tracking systems are the most common types of stolen vehicle recovery systems.