Car Stealer (Courtesy-www.fotosearch.com)

Almost all new models of vehicles in the last few years are equipped with some form of an alarm system. This is because 1,095,769 cars were reported stolen in 2007. Coupled with the increasing cost of cars, these figures give any car owner a powerful incentive to protect his or her vehicle.

A car alarm system is considered by many to be an effective deterrent to car theft. This is because the emitted loud noise and flashing lights when the alarm is triggered is bound to attract attention to a vehicle being broken into. For this reason, cars which have not been installed with an alarm system by their manufacturers are almost invariably installed with one by the owner himself or an auto accessories shop.

The marketing success of car alarm systems, compounded with the fact that some of the alarms may have been improperly installed may prove to be their own undoing. Some car alarm systems installed by non-professionals, and sometimes by so-called professionals from auto accessories shops, are far too easily triggered. This could be due to faulty adjustments in the sensitivity of their

sensors so that the slightest vibration could set off the warning signals. These often cause false alarms which, in time, numbs the people to the loud alarms. On top of this, the loud wailing of sirens and honking of horns contribute to noise pollution, generating negative reactions, and even hostility, from the people. Because of the frequency of false alarms and their hostility to them, they sometimes ignore the sirens and horns of the cars.

But is this enough reason to do away with noise-making car alarm systems? Indeed, car manufacturers are moving away these systems to immobilizers –an electronic gadget that prevents the car engine from running either by blocking the flow of fuel or by disabling certain circuits. Apart from this, aftermarket vehicle tracking systems that rely on GPS can also be installed. This helps the police locate the vehicle if stolen. It also allows the owner to lock the car and disable its starter.

Although immobilizers are quite effective in preventing theft of the vehicle, and GPS tracking systems in recovering them when stolen, they will not prevent the theft of a state-of-the art car sound system, a wood or leather-bound steering wheel, or any valuable item inadvertently left in the car.

Perhaps it is best if noise-making alarms, immobilizers, and tracking systems were all rolled into one security system. This would provide a very strong armor around the car.

Woman Opening Her Car By Remote Control (Courtesy-www.fotosearch.com)

In the United States more than a million vehicles have been stolen each year from 1998 until 2007. In the last year mentioned, California ranked No. 1 in the number of vehicles stolen, scoring 219,392. This figure does not include theft of parts and accessories. In that year, as well as in the previous, Honda Civic model 95 was the favorite of car thieves. If you live in California and drive a Honda Civic 95, better do something to protect your investment. However, living somewhere else and driving another make and model doesn’t mean you have no need to protect your car. With the price of cars going higher each year, you will need some form of protection. A car alarm system is an option you should consider.

A car alarm system is an electronic device that emits a loud noise when certain triggering conditions arise, such as the opening of a car door, hood, or trunk. Some alarm systems are also activated by movements or vibrations near the car, or by any impact upon it. The noise emitted is usually a siren, the car’s own horn, or a recorded verbal warning. These are often accompanied by a flashing of the vehicle’s lights. The noise and the lights are intended to attract the attention of the car owner (if he or she is near) or passersby to prevent the theft of the car. More expensive models incorporate a paging system that notifies the owner if his car’s alarm system has been activated. Others also include a feature that disables certain electrical circuits necessary to start the car.

Car alarm systems are divided into two broad categories: OEM and aftermarket. OEM alarms are factory-installed by the car manufacturer, while aftermarket types are installed by car dealers, the car owner, or auto accessories stores.

OEM alarms are activated and deactivated by the keyless entry remote control of the vehicle with the simple pressing of a button. On some models, this can also be done through switches within the key cylinders of the driver and passenger doors. When a key is inserted and turned to lock the door, the alarm is automatically activated. On the other hand, if it is turned the other way to open it, the alarm is deactivated.

Aftermarket alarm systems, like their OEM cousins, are also armed with the car’s keyless entry remote. They do not, however, have the key cylinder option. Instead, they have an override switch hidden somewhere in the vehicle.

Both the OEM and aftermarket alarm systems come with a radio receiver that receives signals from the car owner using his key fob to arm or disarm the alarm.

Car Alarms System

For anyone interested in having a car of his/her own, it is important to know the risks in owning such luxury. There are many car thieves out there. A future car owner must be prudent enough to know about how his/her car can be protected from these unscrupulous individuals.
Car alarms are categorized into four: the remote car alarm, the manual alarm, the 2-way alarm, and the pagers.

A remote car alarm system enables the owner to start his car from within his house with the use of a remote control. This provides the owner with visuals and audible feedback about what is happening to the car. There are newer developments of car alarm remote controls that have 2-way systems and 2-way LCD displays.

Remote start alarms for cars have increasingly become a trendy choice when it comes to high-technology car alarms. A remote car start alarm allows the owner to turn on the car’s ignition with the use of a handheld remote. This feature will already warm up the car even before its owner reaches it.

Manual alarms come in active and passive activation method. In a passive alarm, the vehicle enters an armed state right after the ignition is turned off and until the closing of the last door. The active alarms, on the other hand, require that the transmitter button be pressed to activate or deactivate the system. Setting the alarm in a passive mode will give the owner a discount on his/her insurance. These alarm systems can be configured to either active or passive arming.

A 2-way car alarm system gives the owner an overview of the car’s condition from a long distance. It has an LCD remote control that lights up or vibrates when a break-in is happening in the owner’s vehicle. Some 2-way car alarm system brands feature unique capabilities such as remote headlight start.

Some can also activate headlights remotely. A 2-way car alarm system has dual sensors that warn the owner when a person approaches the vehicle. It also has digitalized tilt sensors that will know if the car is being lifted.

A car alarm pager beeps and displays warnings when the vehicle is being tampered. It will display icons that show the owner the different points of entry in the vehicle. Its control module even has a feature for a built-in aerial view of the car.

Other car alarm systems available in the market today have very savvy features that include auto-locks, built-in parking-light relays, and many more.