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A recent e-mail:

Dear Mom,

I feel so upset and frustrated! Last night, someone broke into our apartment. As you know, we’re on the ground floor- they simply bent the burglar bars and opened the kitchen window. The car keys were on the kitchen counter. They stuck a hand in and calmly walked off with our new car! After spending thousands of shekels on alarms and immobilisers I feel like crying (in fact I am crying!) Have to run. My insurance agent is on the line.

Love to Dad.

Unfortunately, it seems as though car thefts are on the rise again. We have had at least 5 cases in the last 3 months of car keys (and then cars) being stolen.

Possible Solutions:

If you live on the ground floor- most companies now require you to have a “codanit”- individual keypad with your own code. Even if your company doesn’t require it, put it in. (Cost +/- NIS 350).
Let’s not make life easy for the thieves. Do not leave car keys on kitchen counters or in obvious places (like hanging on a special key rack)
Consider an additional physical protection (e.g. steering wheel lock)

Points to ponder:

None of the above will deter the determined thief. So make sure that you have fulfilled all the requirements on your policy. It’s worth you making a call to your agent and checking up.
In South Africa , I am told that many cars have a “secret switch” which cuts off the ignition 2 minutes after a car is driven without someone disarming the switch. Maybe an idea for a new business?? Apparently it’s very effective.

May the new year bring peace, אהבת ישראל and true שמחה to us all.