Put the Brakes on Auto Theft
What you can do to help prevent auto theft.
Chances are you know someone who has had their vehicle stolen. It may have even been your own. With vehicles now being stolen at a rate of one every five minutes in Canada, the number of people experiencing the emotional impact of having their personal property violated continues to rise. Everyone has a role to play in combatting auto theft, including drivers. You can take preventative action by using an anti-theft device on your vehicle and by adjusting your behaviour to lessen the risk of having your vehicle stolen. By protecting yourself, you can be part of the overall solution to put the brakes on auto theft.
You can do your part in preventing auto theft.
To help mitigate the risk of vehicle theft, here are some recommended steps you can take:
Secure your parked vehicle with a steering-wheel lock, brake pedal lock, or wheel lock, such as “The Club” to secure your parked vehicle.
Secure your car key fob by storing it in a Faraday box or pouch to prevent signal hacking. This provides a barrier so radio signals cannot be sent/received from the key fob.
Lock your doors (both car and home) and park your vehicle inside if you have a garage.
If you own more than one vehicle, it's recommended to park the less valuable one nearer to the street.
Install motion sensors and a camera on your driveway to capture any activity.
Cover the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) so it's not visible on the dashboard.
Store a GPS tracker (ex, Air Tag) to track your vehicle should it be stolen.
Ensure items are out of sight, and do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
When away from home, park in a well-lit area.
Always avoid leaving your vehicle unattended while it is running.
CAA Insurance urges individuals to report any suspicious activity to police and avoid confrontations with thieves.
Theft-deterrent products can help you take back control.
For even more protection, there are anti-theft devices you can have installed that can help make your vehicle more secure. Options can include:
Retractable steel bollards installed in your driveway can be impossible to bypass when they are raised.
Ignition Cut Off System
Also known as a kill switch, it turns off specific circuits or systems in the vehicle, making it difficult to start the engine. There are various kinds of these:
Fuel relay switches prevent fuel from getting to the engine.
Remote car battery switches use magnets to prevent the car from starting.
Battery disconnect switches unhook one of the battery leads.
Ignition wire switches put a break in the ignition wire.
Fuse block switches stop power from getting to the vehicle.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) System
A multi-factor authentication system is installed between the battery and the electrical system and requires a numeric code or a fingerprint to unlock it and start the engine.
Multi-factor authentication is a common process that consumers experience daily when using various digital platforms (financial services or retail apps, for example), and could add security against vehicle theft. The process is simple: The first factor is something the user has, like a key fob, while the second factor is something a user knows, such as a unique code that must be entered to start your vehicle. Some car manufacturers have already begun implementing multi-factor authentication to enhance vehicle security.
After-market Engine Immobilizer
As the name suggests, it is an extra device (not part of the vehicle’s original equipment) that offers additional security standards to prevent auto theft and can incorporate multi-factor authentication.
The process of authentication varies by product, but some common approaches are:
Authentication with a personal identification number (PIN) or a code—A driver uses their vehicle’s key fob to start their vehicle like normal, then performs an additional step of using a unique PIN code or sequence on the dashboard console for the car to be operational. So, for example, if thieves intercepted the car’s key fob signal, they wouldn’t be able to get the car in motion without the correct PIN or sequence. Without completing both steps, immobilizers would block the engine from functioning.
Mobile apps—Some manufacturers have created mobile apps as an additional form of authentication where the driver requires both the key fob and the app activated to start the vehicle.
After-market engine immobilizers should be installed by a professional.
Because after-market engine immobilizers vary, research is key before having one installed. Some do not interfere with a vehicle’s control area network (CAN) bus system. The CAN bus system is effectively the brain that enables communication with various applications in a car. Immobilizers that do not require the CAN bus system but use existing vehicle features instead help ensure that vehicle function is not disrupted.
Installing an after-market engine immobilizer is complicated and is not a do-it-yourself project. That’s why it is recommended that an immobilizer only be installed by a technician authorized by the product manufacturer.
