Vehicle thefts are up 30% in Charlotte. Try these 5 devices to protect your car
Although Charlotte has seen a recent spike in vehicle thefts, with 200 reported stolen within several weeks, there are safeguards you can take to keep criminals away.
CMPD attributed the uptick in car thefts to a viral TikTok challenge which involves using a USB cable to start Kia and Hyundai cars, The Charlotte Observer reported.
RELATED: TikTok challenge to blame for wave of vehicle thefts in Charlotte, police say
While car thefts in Charlotte are up 30%, officials said some devices are made specifically to stave off criminals. Here are five products you can buy to prevent your car from being stolen.
Steering wheel lock
Using a steering wheel lock can be a good way to prevent someone from stealing your vehicle.
Some locks can be fastened to the steering wheel to make it difficult to operate a vehicle while it’s parked. Others create barriers to turning the wheel by attaching it to the dashboard or one of the pedals, according to Forbes Wheels.
Most locks are made to fit certain steering wheels, so it’s best to shop around and see which one fits yours.
Wheel lock clamp
While wheel locks only prevent wheel thefts, wheel lock clamps can keep your car from being stolen, according to MotorBiscuit.com, an online resource for automotive news and buying advice.
Similar to how a car gets “booted” for unpaid parking tickets, wheel lock clamps are designed to immobilize vehicles, even if a thief tries to tow it away.
Wheel locks designed to clamp around your wheel are generally easy to install and difficult for thieves to remove, MotorBiscuit reported.
Key fob signal blocker
Many newer cars don’t require keys to start their engines, and thieves can use that to their advantage by duplicating the signal from your key fob to unlock them.
Signal blockers, which are usually lined with metal, can block your fob’s signal from being read. You can also wrap your key fob in a small piece of aluminum foil to obstruct the signals of your fob.
Hidden kill switch
A hidden kill switch cuts the flow of electricity of your car’s ignition switch to prevent thieves from stealing them, according to Car and Driver, an automotive enthusiast magazine.
The average hidden kill switch costs $10, but they may have to be installed by an auto technician.
GPS tracker
Unfortunately, theft-deterrents aren’t always successful, but if your car is stolen, you can use a GPS tracker to locate it and alert law enforcement.
You can download a smartphone app with most GPS tracking devices to find out the exact location of your car in real-time.
Similar to GPS trackers, vehicle recovery systems can help law enforcement track your vehicle if it is stolen by sending radio signals to your car through special computers.
