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Business & Economy Briefs

Protecting your vehicle

in Latin America

by Juan A. Gracia Jr.

Part of the excitement of living in or visiting Latin America is having the ability to drive around. Cruising while in the comfort of your own vehicle or a sporty rental is what adds to the enjoyment of living and traveling throughout Latin America. Unfortunately, drivers also have to take extra security precautions when parking their automobiles.

Car theft for the purpose of dismantling a vehicle to sell off the parts is a growing trend. With law enforcement efforts stretched thin by other violent crimes the chance of recovering your vehicle is usually slim to none. This should not in any way discourage you from driving your vehicle or a rental throughout Central and South America. What it should do is make you better aware of the situation. Awareness should breed prudence and better preparation.

The targeting, selection, and stealing of an automobile is accomplished by individuals tied into, or actually operating automobile chop shops. Once the vehicle is selected it is stolen and taken to either a local shop, or one out of town. It is then stripped of its valued parts for re-sale out in the market. The vehicle can also be re-painted and sold within Panama, or shipped throughout Latin America. Popular makes and models include Mercedes, BMWs, Cadillac Escalades and other high end SUVs. This does not mean that smaller mid-size makes such as Acuras, Hondas, and Toyotas are free and clear of being targeted. Older models from 1995 to 2001 have valued parts that make them attractive. It is a crime that is very profitable and will continue to expand as Latin America continues to experience surges in tourism and expatriates.

Here are some tips for protecting your vehicle:

·        Always keep your windows up and doors locked. Very common sense, but an unbelievable amount of vehicles are stolen because these two basic principles are not followed.

·        Do not leave spare keys in those special little hiding places outside of your vehicle. Criminals also know where to look.

·        If it is your personal vehicle take a picture of it and copy down the VIN # and any other license / tag / automobile numbers. This could aid in recovering the automobile.

·        Invest in a good and loud alarm system.

·        The usage of a steering wheel device (club) is also an option as a secondary barrier. It makes your vehicle a harder target. The criminal has to spend more time executing the crime and therefore he or she stands a greater chance of getting caught.

·        If you’re entering a store, restaurant, or other location attempt to park your vehicle in front of the establishment where you can possibly you can observe your automobile. Do not park your vehicle in an isolated side or back street.

·        Be wary of paid parking lots. Ask yourself. What types of vehicles are parked there? How attentive are the employees? Are they alert and professional? Does it look legitimate? Is the parking lot in a very isolated area?

·        Make sure your Insurance is up to date.

·        If renting a vehicle get a plainer looking model. Stay away from fancier looking models that will attractive attention.

·        Report the thief immediately to local police, but be prepared to face the fact that your vehicle may be lost forever.

Stealing automobiles to strip and resell the parts, or outright selling them throughout Latin America is not going to cease any time soon. Just as there are drug cartels and kidnapping syndicates there are also professional automobile thieves involved in the black market world of stolen cars. Basically what this means is that you must pay a little more attention to where you park your vehicle. If your automobile is going to get stolen make it as hard as possible for the thief to execute the crime.

A large part of enjoying Central and South America’s cultural and environmental richness is by driving through it. By being aware of the possibilities and following a few prudent steps your driving experience should be an enjoyable one. Remember security is your responsibility. Be Prepared for the Unexpected!

Juan A. Garcia Jr. is the Owner and Chief Instructor of High Risk Security Services. HRSS specializes in providing personal security / anti-kidnapping training and consulting services for executives, expatriates, travelers, and organizations worldwide. See http://www.atrisksecurity.com/. Mr. Garcia can be reached at highrisk@att.net

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