Woman Scares Off Car Thieves With Her Finger - And Other Recovery Attempts

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

Yes, news went viral last week about a woman cleverly recovered her own stolen car which had been missing for five days. It's always a good feeling when the "good guys" get the upper hand on the "bad guys", but was the risky maneuver something we should attempt?

"Kitty Hold-Up"
Photo Credit:
examiner.com

Seeing her own stolen car in a parking lot, the 50 year old woman from Washington (state) went up to the alleged thieves and demanded that they give her the keys. When they refused, she grabbed one of the men and as she did so, stuck her finger in the back of one, saying she would shoot if he didn't turn over the keys! 

While the bluff did work, and the suspects were apprehended by police, it is generally not a good idea to confront suspected thieves. This woman is lucky that her bluff worked for her.

A 2010 story out of the UK ended quite badly when a 42 year old woman who confronted her alleged thief was run over and killed. There are other tragic stories with similar bad endings if you take the time to look, but every now and then you hear stories where car owners fight back to protect their rides.

Meanwhile, right here in Texas, a car thief was stopped while attempting to steal an SUV from in front of a home in an affluent area of San Antonio. This time the gun was real and the consequences were deadly. In January 2013 the two alleged thieves were brought down by the vehicle owner, with one being injured, the other dying from the gunshot he received. No charges were brought against the vehicle owner since he was protecting his property while the crime was being committed.

The bottom line is you need to assess every situation individually. Guy Algar states, "While we don't recommend taking matters into your own hands, sometimes circumstances force us to do so. We always urge you to first contact the police by calling 9-1-1." As we've discussed in our classic car theft prevention series, "Keeping Your Ride Safe", it's always a wise idea to consider how you would react in  various situations, rehearse what you would do and prepare yourself for a variety of potential outcomes in order to ensure your own safety as well.

REFERENCE:
AOL News - Woman Bluffs Car Thieves Into Returning Her Car
KENS5 - Car Thief Killed, Another Wounded At Stone Oak Home
The Telegraph - Woman Killed After Confronting Car Thief

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

Spring Break In Texas Means More Inexperienced And Distracted Drivers On The Road

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

It's spring break time here in Texas, and with it we see our youth heading out to popular vacation spots to celebrate breaks in their school year. That can mean more inexperienced drivers, distracted drivers, and typically even more inebriated drivers.  A bad mix for the roadways.

Mardi Gras Celebration in New Orleans
Photo Credit: statesman.com

Many spring breakers head out to parties on the coast, New Orleans, or even a drive to Mexican hot-spots. All this can lead to trouble with more drivers on the road and even more thieves willing to take advantage. We encourage homeowners who will be away to secure your home, secure your vehicles, and stay alert while driving.

If you've got kids who are planning a getaway, make sure you've discussed the rules of safety in numbers, risks of carrying cash, driving with a designated sober driver and/or plans to hire a ride home after a night of partying. Here are some tips:

• Plan your trip in advance
• Make reservations for your accommodations
• Be wary of overly friendly people
• Keep political opinion to yourself
• Don't look like a tourist
• Don't act like a tourist
• Speak the local language if you know it
• Stick to well-lit, populated areas

And, more specific to a day/night out partying:

• Travel in groups and stick together
• Don't go out with cash
• Don't carry purses/wallets
• Have one person pay for the night's activities on a credit card (divide it up later)
• Watch your drinking - have a few drinks but don't overdo it
• Have someone in your group stay sober or limit their drinking
• Have a designated "mother" who will keep everyone safe
• Don't drink and drive

Guy Algar explains, "We've all grown up having our fair share of parties and fun. What's different for today's youth are all the distractions that surround you while you drive. We didn't have cell phones, smart phones and iPads and vehicles that are equipped with technology that allows you to text and post to Facebook or Twitter while you drive. Couple that with driving when you've been out drinking and it's a formula for disaster." Our children have grown up with these technologies and don't see how distracting they can be.

We wish everyone a safe and happy spring break.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.

Could VIN Cloning Affect The Classic Car Market?

by Andrea L. Algar
Motorheads Performance

The disturbing new trend of criminals cloning VIN numbers is growing, and it is producing a frustrating number of problems for legitimate car owners nationwide. Could you become victim of an "illegal twin" to your ride?
 

VIN Cloning's Threat To Classic Cars
Photo Credit: newson6.com


If you're not aware of the new method of VIN cloning, you won't be for long. It's on the rise, and is currently used to copy VIN numbers off of legitimate cars that are left in parking lots or other easily accessible public places. The numbers are then used to register stolen vehicles. These newly cloned vehicles can then be used recklessly by the criminals, leaving you holding the bag for speeding tickets or accidents, used to commit a crime, or even to sell the "hot" car for pure profit.

You would be totally unaware that a crime has occurred until you begin receiving parking tickets, speeding tickets, a summons to appear in court, or even arrested for suspicion of involvement in a crime. The consequences can be costly, embarrassing and time-consuming. And, it's happening all over the country.

The FBI broke up a cloning ring in 2009 that had cloned 1,000 stolen cars worth approximately 25 million dollars.  Used car buyers can be duped into receiving stolen property if the VIN of their new purchase turns out to have been cloned. Even though you were unaware that it was a stolen car that had been tampered with, you may find yourself out of a vehicle that you still must make payments on!

In our monthly series, "Keeping Our Rides Safe", our focus is to try to prevent theft of our beloved classic cars, muscle cars and old vintage trucks. Guy Algar elaborates, "In researching this new trend of VIN cloning, we realize that there is little to prevent thieves from applying the same techniques to stolen classic cars. A visit to a car show could provide dozens or even hundreds of VIN numbers which would then be transferred to similar stolen cars, and the owner would be unaware that any type of crime has occurred." It's a frightening thought.

Guy Algar continues, "The rules of theft prevention are sometimes so simple we don't routinely follow them. We're easily lulled into a false sense of security when we're at a car show, a swap meet, or places that are known to be relatively safe. With VIN cloning, we need to be even more aware than ever before." 

Carefully consider these steps to keep your ride safe:

• Know Who Your Friends Are
• How & Where You Store/Park/Garage Your Car
• At-Home Theft Prevention
• On-the-road Theft Prevention
• Insurance Protection
• Do-it-Yourself Theft Deterrents
• Alarms
• Locks
• Car Theft Systems
• Cameras / Video
• Tracking & Recovery Systems

If you're in the market for purchasing a used classic, take the time to check the VIN plate for any signs of tampering such as scratches or alterations to any of the letters or numbers. Try to perform a check of the vehicle's history to make sure that the facts add up. And, be wary if the deals seems to be too good to be true. Thieves who have cloned VIN numbers often sell below market value in order to turn a quick profit.

If you suspect that a newly purchased classic car, muscle car, street rod, antique car or vintage truck may have been cloned because you've started receiving tickets, contact your local police department who can help determine if it is using another vehicle's VIN number. 

REFERENCES:
AOL Autos - Your Car Could Have An Illegal Twin If Thieves Clone The VIN
BBB - VIN Cloning Swindles Luxury Car Buyers
FBI - Steering Clear of Car Cloning

RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Classic Car News - Preventing Classic Car Theft: The Big Picture

Classic Car News - Identifying The Potential Classic Car Thief - Know Who Your Friends Are

Classic Car News - How & Where To Park Your Classic Car or Muscle Car In Order To Minimize The Threat of Theft

Classic Car News - At Home Theft Prevention for Your Classic Car or Muscle Car

Classic Car News - On The Road Theft Protection - How to Keep Your Classic Car or Muscle Car Safe While Traveling

Classic Car News - Protect Your Classic Car or Muscle Car From Theft With Specialty Insurance

Classic Car News - Auto Theft Series - Alert to New Theft Method Being Used

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Andrea L. Algar is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her husband Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.