Tag: United States

Car theft has been a problem in the United States since cars were invented. A car or other vehicle is stolen in the United States every 28.8 seconds according to 2008 data from the FBI. The chances of your car being stolen in the U.S. are 1 in 210 according to data from federal agencies and the Insurance Information Institute. The odds vary geographically. The Northeast has the lowest incidence of vehicle thefts, about 9.8 percent, and the Midwest 18.2 percent. The South and West have the highest percentage of vehicle thefts, about 36 percent each. Your chances of having your car stolen are highest in urban areas.
The III reported dismal statistics in 2007 on apprehending car thieves, with an arrest rate of only 12.6 percent. Furthermore, the the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that year that 41 percent of stolen vehicles were never recovered. If your car is stolen, there isn’t much you can do after the fact except call the police and file an insurance claim. Meanwhile, you won’t have transportation unless you either rent a car or go out and buy another one. It’s much better to take the following precautions to prevent car theft before it happens to you.
* Lock up. Newer cars are easier than ever to secure when you step away even for a few minutes, with automatic locks and remote key fobs. Close your sunroof and roll up your windows before you leave. Avoid starting your car to warm it up unless you’re sitting in it. An idling vehicle with the keys in the ignition takes mere seconds to steal and drive away.
* Parking is an issue, both at home and away. At home, use your garage and lock it up, especially night. On-street parking can be a haven for thieves, especially in high-crime areas, so choose spots with good lighting and a good flow of vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
* Avoid tempting thieves. Leaving an extra key somewhere in the vehicle or attached to the frame is asking to get your car stolen, because crooks know where to look. Your registration and insurance papers are another factor that can make a thief’s job that much easier–not only can he grab your car, but he can steal your identity. Instead, make copies of the papers and hand out a set to each person in your family that drives. Finally, don’t leave your valuables in your car while it’s parked. Many insurance companies have stopped paying claims for items like cell phones and music players that were stolen from vehicles, and they’re too great a temptation for thieves.
* If you want to add an extra shield of protection, a number of devices are available that can go a long way toward making your car theftproof.
Car security comes in many types and price ranges. At the most basic level, a simple steering wheel lock or brake pedal lock is an inexpensive way to secure your vehicle and is visible to thieves who might be sizing your vehicle up.
A car alarm is a highly effective way to chase thieves away from your car and alert law enforcement in the area. An alarm system is simply a sensing device attached to noisemakers like sirens and horns. Sophisticated alarm systems go beyond the basic door trigger switch found in low-end systems and use motion detectors, sound sensors that pick up the pitch of glass breaking, air pressure detectors that know when a car door is open, and even sensors that know when your vehicle is being driven up a ramp onto a thief’s flatbed trailer.
The kill switch is a relatively new development in vehicle security. These anti-theft devices work by keeping your car from starting unless you supply the correct inputs. Special ignition keys that release a radio signal to unlock your car’s starting system are especialy popular. Other lockout devices may disable your car’s fuel or electrical system while you’re away.
Tracking devices can use either the cars onboard GPS system or radiofrequency technology to track your cars whereabouts after its stolen and increase your chances of getting it back. Some insurance companies offer their customers discounts on tracking devices as well as a premium discount for using these technologies.
Car thieves love the Cadillac Escalade, the Hummer, and other big, luxurious SUVs because they can be resold for so much money. The 2005 and newer Dodge Charger is another favorite of crooks. If you’re shopping for a new car, keep in mind that a small car is one-eighth as likely to be stolen as an SUV. The all-time least popular vehicle with car thieves is the Volvo S70.

Spanish is one of the most diversely spoken languages in the world. It is estimated that up to 400 million people currently speak it as their first language with many more learning it. In countries like the United States, it is growing in popularity as a second language. One way to learn Spanish is using an audio course that comes on a CD or Mp3 format. After reading it you will know that how to learn Spanish through audio on CD or on Mp3. By listening to audio files, it is almost like that you are in that foreign country or talking to a fluent speaker face to face. Look atthe most popular and effective Spanish course. Read the review of Rocket Spanish course at click click here rocket spanish.
If you are looking for a course which will help you to study Spanish, then audio components is best for you which is the most important part of the course. The things that you associate to learn the language, is reading and writing, which are important for course, but they are not essential. Again, you have to learn to talk your native tongue long before you ever learned to read or write. So talking is the most important skill to have. It is also the hardest part of learning a language because you have to perfect a number of skills. You have to be able to pronounce words correctly. You have to be able to comprehend what is being said to you to hold a conversation. And you have to do both of these things quickly if the conversation is to flow naturally.
Spanish audio CDs or Mp3’s give you the opportunity to learn and practice these core skills without the pressure of talking to another person. You can use many of these courses wherever you want, in your home, in your office, in your car, or in your garden, where you want to learn. Many people choose to listen to them in the car when they are going to or coming from work each day. This makes sense to some extent because there is nothing more frustrating as being stuck in traffic for many hours each day. However, it is debatable whether you can give your full concentration to the course while driving at the same time.
The great thing about the audio based course is that you can listen to the exact pronunciations of every single word from a native Spanish speaker and you can take it with you pretty much wherever you go, you can listen to it in the car, on your MP3 player while jogging, walking the dog etc. If you think that you would like to learn to speak Spanish by listening to audiobooks you can learn the language visit synergy spanish reviewed.