If you live in the United States, the odds of your vehicle being stolen are 1 in 210, according to 2006 data from the federal government and the Insurance Information Institute (III). Not only that, but the III reports that more than 75,000 airbags are stolen every year. Urban areas are the worst for car theft statistics, and if you live in the West or South, your chances of becoming a car theft victim are double the chances in the Midwest, and four times as likely for those living in the Northeast. The first car theft in recorded history took place in 1898, so car thieves have had plenty of time to refine their techniques.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported in 2007 that fewer than 60 percent of car theft victims ever got their vehicles back. Many of those vehicles were returned with body damage and expensive parts stripped off, requiring extensive repairs and body shop work. Law enforcement officials stress the need to call the police immediately if your car is stolen, but the recovery numbers are dismal. The best way to deal with car theft is to take these steps to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

* Secure your car. The best antitheft device is standard equipment on all vehicles: lock your vehicle every time you leave it, even for a minute. Also be sure to close your car windows and sunroof before you get out and lock. Never leave your car with the motor running, even in your own driveway. Car theft is an opportunistic crime, and the sight of an unattended car sending out exhaust with no one in sight is too tempting for thieves.

* Invest in a garage if you can. If you have a garage, you can increase your car’s security (and your own) by always locking it. If you don’t have a garage, parking in your driveway is safer than a spot at the curb. Away from home, pick your parking spots carefully and avoid poorly lit, low-traffic streets, especially after dark.

* Don’t make thieves’ job easier. Crime experts warn against leaving a spare key hidden in or on the vehicle, because car thieves know all the good hiding spots for a spare key. Keep your vehicle papers with you and make a set for each driver in the family, instead of leaving them in the glove box. Keep the inside of your car clean and empty. Take your cell phone, music player, and other electronic devices with you when you leave the car, and never leave a purse, briefcase, or closed bag in plain sight while you’re gone.

* Invest in anti-theft technology. These items aren’t foolproof, but they can make a car thief pass up your vehicle for an easier target.

An inexpensive anti-theft device consists of a heavy steel clamp that fits over your steering wheel to keep a car thief from steering it after stealing it. You carry the key to the device on your key ring. Although these devices can be jimmied by a determined crook, this takes extra time, and car thieves like to work quickly.

Car alarm systems have sensors that trigger attention-getting devices like sirens, the cars horn, and flashing the headlights when a thief tries to break into the car. Sensors range from basic switches that trigger when a car door is opened, to glass-breaking detectors for thieves who use the smash-and-grab approach, motion sensors, sensors that detect changes in air pressure, and tilt detectors to deter crooks who bring a tow truck with them when they go out stealing vehicles.

Some vehicle security systems work by locking out the ignition, fuel, or electrical systems until you touch a hidden switch or insert an electronically coded ignition key. Although a car thief may still steal components or tow your vehicle away, these systems deter the most common scenario of breaking in and hotwiring.

New tracking technologies have become standard equipment on high-end vehicles. Global positioning systems (GPS) can help law enforcement find your vehicle after a theft. Police can also track a vehicle using a tracking systems with a hidden transmitter to allow police to track the vehicle. An example of this type of system is the LoJack, which operates over half of the states in the U.S. Law enforcement likes these systems because they frequently lead to chop shops and other illegal theft operations and the arrest of criminals.

Certain vehicles are frequent targets for car thieves, especially high-end sport utility vehicles. The Cadillac Escalade and the Hummer were featured last year in an ABC News article on the most stolen cars in the U.S. Models among the least likely to be stolen are the Mercedes E Class, Buick Rainier and Subaru Forester.

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