An alarming piece of advice
I’ve worked in places where there has been an alarm that needed to be set at the end of day and turned off in the morning. The alarm is designed to help protect the property and keep thieves away. We have the same thing for our vehicles. Do we need alarms and do they do what we want them to do? Do we just need security features instead of alarms? Are any of these a necessary part of our vehicle?
For over 25 years, vehicle alarms have increased popularity with the general population across Canada and North America. If you decide to purchase one, be sure you choose the security features that best suit your needs and your budget.
A car alarm is an electronic device that’s attempting to discourage theft of the vehicle or contents from the vehicle. Years ago, the most common alarm that most people had was them leaving a dog in the car! Times have changed and so have the alarms. Some systems don’t have the alarm at all; they have a system that disables the vehicle so the ignition won’t work. I had one of those years ago and I liked it. It gave me peace of mind to know that someone wouldn’t be able to steal my car. They could take the contents left inside my vehicle though. For that reason, I put my valuables in the trunk or glove box. Out of sight means out of mind.
Since car alarms are a very common place in our society, most people essentially ignore an alarm and do nothing about the sound blaring throughout the parking lot or residential neighbourhood. Since this is the case, most vehicle manufacturers no longer fit the vehicle with noise alarms. They are often using immobilizers. These devices often stop the theft of the vehicle, but does nothing about the contents.
Vehicle alarms use sensors to activate the alarm. The types of sensors you may find in the marketplace include; door sensors (for an open door or trunk), shock sensor (if the body of the vehicle is moved), window sensor (if a window is broken), pressure sensor (if the air pressure inside the vehicle changes, such as when the door is opened) and a tilt sensor (if the vehicle has been tilted, such as on a tow truck). They are all alarms that will go off if the sensor has been triggered from a would-be thief. Most vehicle alarms don’t rely solely on one sensor. They usually have a combination of those mentioned above. The more complete your security system is, the safer your vehicle will be from theft.
My best advice is to use a device that stops the engine from being started and to keep all valuables locked away. Another suggestion is to park in a well lit area. In a parking lot, park near a light post. The overhead light may make thieves think twice about stealing the vehicle or its contents. Make sure you always lock your doors as well. No need to make it too easy for thieves.
Before purchasing an alarm or security system, do you own research. Check with a variety of retail stores, plus use the internet to find out more about your new investment. It would allow you to keep your investment in good hands…your own!