More Than One Way to Steer Away Car Thieves
Question: My car was recently stolen, despite having an expensive alarm system. I have replaced the car and again have an alarm system, but I am a lot less naive now. I am considering a steering wheel lock and am wondering what you can tell me about them. Would use of such a lock rule out a car theft?--A.U.
Answer: More than 1 million cars are stolen from Americans every year, a staggering loss by any measure and a sad commentary on lawlessness in our society. Auto alarms can help, but there is no certain method to stop a determined thief.
If you own a fancy car that is a target for car thieves or park in a high-crime area, you are likely at some time to consider an anti-theft system. Steering wheel locks are an obvious deterrent you will want to consider.
I recently had an opportunity to evaluate a steering wheel lock. Although it may seem like a tedious chore to attach the lock several times a day, it is probably less of a hassle than finding an empty space where you once left your car parked.
An experienced auto thief can easily defeat the steering-column locks that are standard equipment on almost all new cars. All it takes are a few simple tools and less than a minute of time.
Steering wheel locks disable a car by preventing the car from being steered once the thief has broken the ignition-locking system on the steering column. What it does not do is offer a deterrent to a thief who wants to steal a radio or a briefcase. If you want to protect a radio, a car alarm may be a better choice.
Most steering wheel locks hook around the brake pedal and attach to the steering wheel. The locks come in all different qualities, and a pleasant surprise for American motorists is that higher quality locks are built in the United States.
The lock I evaluated was from the Kryptonite Corp. of Boston, makers of the now-famous Kryptonite bicycle lock, which features a hardened-steel shank and tubular-locking mechanism.
I found the lock easy to use. The Kryptonite lock can permanently adjust to any length required from the brake pedal to the steering column by an unusual screw mechanism. This seems to be an advantage over the locks that must be adjusted during each use.
Kryptonite President Peter Zane said the entire lock is made of hardened steel and cannot be cut with a hacksaw or a bolt cutter. Zane said the imported models he has tested can be cut, and some of the flimsier ones can be bent or broken by hand.
Another lock that is in the same general quality class as the Kryptonite is the Club, produced by Winner International. Rather than attaching to the brake pedal, it is simply a long bar that locks to the steering wheel and prevents it from being rotated. It is made with tempered steel and a double tumbler locking system.
The Kryptonite lock costs $69.95 and the Club costs about $60. The cheaper imported locks, which do not have the tubular lock or hardened shank, are sold in discount auto stores for as little as $12.
A steering wheel lock won’t stop a professional thief intent on getting your car, but it will slow him down enough that he may find an easier target. How determined are thieves? Some will saw off the brake pedal to remove a steering wheel lock and drive without the pedal, Zane said.
The Kryptonite lock attaches with a locked loop around the steering wheel, whereas the cheaper ones simply hook on. That means that even if the brake pedal is sawed, it would still make the car undrivable. The Club does not depend on the brake pedal.
If you buy a Kryptonite and your car is stolen, the company will pay your insurance deductible up to $500. Zane claims that so far no car has been stolen while it was locked with his steering wheel lock. The Club also comes with a guarantee of $200 for an insurance deductible.
