CUSTOMER INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS 
HOW TO FOIL A CAR THIEF 
A FEW SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF THEFT 
The numbers are stag- 
gering. Every 37 seconds 
or so a car is stolen some- 
where in the U.S. That 
adds up to almost 800,000 
cars a year. But you can do 
something to keep your car 
from becoming a statistic. 
Start by avoiding these four 
common parking mistakes. 
The “Just for a Min- 
ute” Syndrome. When you 
leave your car, even if it’s 
“just for a minute” lock all 
of the doors and take your 
keys. In fact, about one of 
every five cars stolen was 
left unattended with keys 
in the ignition. Keep driver’s 
license and vehicle registra- 
tion cards in your wallet or 
purse. If a car thief finds 
these documents in the ve- 
hicle’s glove box, he can 
impersonate you if stopped 
by the police. 
The Isolated Loca- 
tion. It’s safest to park in 
a locked garage, but if you 
can’t, don’t leave your car 
in a dark, out-of-the-way 
spot. Instead, try to park 
on a busy, well-lighted 
street. Thieves shy away 
from tampering with a car 
if there’s a high risk of be- 
ing spotted. 
The Display Case. 
There’s nothing more invit- 
ing to a thief than expensive 
items lying in your car, in 
plain sight. If you lock these 
items in the trunk or glove 
box, there’s less incentive 
for a thief to break in. Also, 
when you park in a com- 
mercial lot or garage, be 
cautious. Lock your valu- 
ables in the trunk, and leave 
only the ignition key with 
the attendant. 
The Space at the End 
of the Block. In recent 
years, professional car-theft 
operations have become an 
increasing problem. Unlike 
amateurs, the professionals 
are not easily deterred. Cars 
parked at the end of a block 
are easy targets for the pro- 
fessional thief with a tow 
truck. So, it’s best to park 
in the middle of the block. 
Be sure to turn your steer- 
ing wheel sharply to one 
side or the other. That will 
lock the steering column 
and prevent the car from 
being towed from the rear. 
Unfortunately, there’s 
no such thing as a “theft- 
proof” car. But at General 
Motors, we’re equipping 
every car we build with anti- 
theft features. We want to 
help you make it as difficult 
as possible for any thief — 
amateur or professional — 
to steal your car. 
This advertisement is part of 
oar continuing effort to give cus- 
tomers useful information about 
their cars and trucks and the 
company that builds them. 
General Motors 
People building transportation 
to serve people 
