FIGHT BACK : TO DISCOURAGE AMBITIOUS AUTO THIEF, DON'T MAKE ANYTHING EASY.

Byline: David Horowitz 

The best way to beat a car thief is to have your car play hard-to-get-away-with. It just takes a little common sense to make it difficult for thieves to have a clean escape without the police on their tail.

Your risk of losing to thieves is highest when you leave the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked, even in your driveway or garage.

People do it all the time, according to police, and when an auto theft report is filed with the insurance company, they can have their insurance canceled without explanation. If you think putting a phony alarm sticker on your car protects you, police say it only gives the thieves something to look for to disconnect.

What steps do you take to protect your car? Lock it in your garage, and also lock the garage doors.

If you have a steering wheel lock, use it - even if you are on home turf. Fuel shut-off devices are also good deterrents, and always activate your auto alarm and any other anti-theft devices no matter how short a period you leave your car unattended.

It's also a must not to ever leave your car alone with the engine running.

Always keep auto windows up and doors locked in any parking place. Park your car in attended lots whenever possible - thieves don't like people around when they work.

Rip-off artists also cruise neighborhoods with tow trucks and simply tow away cars on their shopping list. Police told me you can stop the quickie towers by putting the car in gear after you set the emergency brake.

If you use a steering wheel lock and an alarm system, your chances of getting your car ripped off drop considerably. To prevent someone from stealing the car out of the driveway, make it more difficult by backing it in, so a thief would be in plain view of your neighbors.

When are auto thieves most active? Auto theft statistics indicate that cars are most likely to be stolen on a Monday night or a Friday night, when they are parked in driveways or open garages. Thieves simply get in the car through an unlocked door, pull out the ignition lock cylinder and start the car, or simply use the key if it's in the ignition.

By the way, insurance statistics show that about a third of car owners with alarm systems don't use them or make sure they are in working condition.