Car alarms might drive you nuts when they go off when someone isn\u2019t trying to hijack your wheels thanks to the cat jumping on top of them hoping for a quiet nap (actually, that one could be quite funny to watch when the cat leaps up like… a startled cat), a heavy truck or an earthquake (if you\u2019re in New Zealand) shakes the car a bit, or something going wrong with the wiring.\u00a0 I\u2019m not making the wiring one up \u2013 a male friend of mine who will remain unnamed once had his Mazda Bongo van\u2019s alarm go off in the middle of the night.\u00a0 He went out practically in the nuddy to switch it off only to have a female police officer come down the drive to make sure everything was all right \u2013 she had the sense to realise that a scantily-clad person poking around a noisy car is likely to be the owner.\u00a0 Anyway, back to car alarms.\u00a0 They might be annoying but they are a deterrent if someone does want to steal your car.<\/p>\n
According to Top Gear magazine, the cars most frequently stolen in Australia are:<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden Commodore Executive four-door sedan, 1999 model<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden Commodore Berlina four-door sedan, 1998 model<\/p>\n
3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ford Falcon Forte four-door sedan, 1999 model<\/p>\n
4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden Commodore Executive four-door sedan, 1998 model<\/p>\n
5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hyundai Excel Sprint hatchback, 1996 model<\/p>\n
6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden Commodore Executive four-door sedan, 1996 model<\/p>\n
7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden Commodore Executive four-door sedan, 1990 model<\/p>\n
8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden Commodore Executive stationwagon, 1996 model<\/p>\n
9)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Toyota RAV Cruiser 4×4\/SUV, 2002 model<\/p>\n
10)\u00a0\u00a0 Hyundai Excel Sprint hatchback, 1999 model.<\/p>\n
Not sure what Top Gear based their research on, but similar research was done across the Tasman by an insurance company, who looked at all the insurance claims for stolen vehicles over five or so years to compile their list.\u00a0 The list of cars most stolen in New Zealand reads a little differently, which could prove food for thought for social scientists trying to analyse the cultural differences between here and there, although the trans-Tasman list is less specific. The cars stolen most often in New Zealand are:<\/p>\n
1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Honda Torneo<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nissan Elgrande<\/p>\n
3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Subaru Impreza<\/p>\n
4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Subaru Forester<\/p>\n
5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Subaru Legacy<\/p>\n
6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nissan Skyline<\/p>\n
7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nissan Presea<\/p>\n
8)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mitsubishi Libero<\/p>\n
9)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nissan Cefiro<\/p>\n
10)\u00a0\u00a0 Nissan Sunny.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand research also found that most of the cars were stolen from public car parks, and that almost half the drivers\/insurance claimants interviewed for the research didn\u2019t lock their cars around their home, and about 10% didn\u2019t lock their cars up AT ALL no matter where it was parked.<\/p>\n
So how do you prevent your car from being stolen, especially if you\u2019ve got one of those oh-so-popular Holden Commodore Executives?\u00a0 You should be able to foil the average car-jacker by taking a few simple steps.<\/p>\n
And the most annoying car alarm I\u2019ve ever heard?\u00a0 It would have to be one that produced a deep, growly voice warning \u201cDon\u2019t touch my car!\u201d when anyone walked within three metres of it.\u00a0 I saw this at a camping ground, and it was a magnet for kids, who went up to it and poked it just to see what would happen next.<\/p>\n