In today’s world, it is necessary to defend our automobiles against the threats of being stolen, vandalized or broken into. A car requires a large and usually lengthy monetary investment. Not to mention that many of us depend on our vehicles to conduct our everyday lives. So it’s important to consider the best way to protect your investment.

Door locks are still necessary, but not always sufficient safeguards in themselves. As a result, car alarms have become popular as they add another layer of protection. A car alarm creates loud, obnoxious sounds when the security of the car has been breached. The goal is to frighten away a potential thief by bringing attention to the car they are targeting.

However, the effectiveness of car alarms has been challenged by many studies over the past several years. Auto insurance companies, auto makers and law enforcement agencies agree that cars with alarms “show no overall reduction in theft losses”. One major reason is that people are so used to hearing the noises, they have grown indifferent, and make no effort to act when they hear an alarm. Another is that today’s professional auto thief is very sophisticated and can easily disable the electronic alarm device before it goes off.

In addition, car alarms have created a huge backlash due to the noise they create. Groups across the country have formed to combat the “noise pollution” that car alarms contribute to daily life. Some even go so far as to propose outright bans on their use.

Alarms, even though controversial, are still widely used. But consumers have an increasing number of options to enhance their car security systems. Keyless entry, remote start, paging, license plate cameras and gps car tracking are just a few examples of additional ways to protect your ride.

The use of a car alarm is still a personal decision, but it’s important to know the facts:

• They have been proven to be generally ineffective in stopping car theft.
• Depending on your circumstances, a car alarm can have a negative impact on your relations with your neighbors.
• There are other more effective security measures available to protect your automobile.