Security

Auto theft is a $7.5 Billion annual industry costing insurance companies and consumers $20 Million per day.
In 1998, 1.4 Million vehicles were stolen in the US. Nearly 4,000 a day.*
One-third were never recovered.
Only 14% of the perpetrators were ever caught.

* FBI statistics

FACTS ON OEM SECURITY

OEM security systems protect the vehicle from being stolen. They are not designed to protect anything inside the vehicle.
Breaking into cars and trucks is much more common than the theft of an entire vehicle. For example: in 1998 there were 1.4 million cars and trucks stolen in the U.S. while there were over 1 million vehicle break-ins in New York City alone.
Once a thief learns how to bypass an OEM security system in one of a car manufacturer’s models, the thief will be able to bypass all models of that specific car manufacturer.
OEM electronic technologies have a 3 year to 5 year production cycle.
Aftermarket electronic technologies have a 9 month to 18 month production cycle.

AFTERMARKET SECURITY

Sales of aftermarket security reached $300 Million in 1998
Sales have been growing at a 20% rate per year since 1994
Only 29% of car owners in the U.S. own an Electronic Security System
Most insurance companies offer discounts for vehicles with anti-theft devices
States that mandate insurance discounts for anti-heft devices:

 
Florida New Mexico
Illinois New York
Kentucky Pennsylvania
Louisiana Rhode Island
Massachusetts Texas
Minnesota Washington

 

Features of Aftermarket (E.S.) that is frequently not offered on OEM Alarms: Automatic Arming, Shock Sensor, Current Sensing, Instant Panic and Car Finder

 

In 1998, regions where thieves were most prevalent:

 

[ Vehicle Crime Statistics 2 ]