About Hot-Wiring Cars
Cars are designed to be simple to start--but only by the person who holds the key. Hot-wiring a car can be a highly illegal process by which thieves exploit the ease of starting an automobile in order to steal it. Understanding the process of hot-wiring is important for car owners, and knowing its impact is crucial to deter would-be thieves.
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Function
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A car's ignition entails the completion of a circuit that starts the engine and allows the car to move. Normally, a key is inserted into a specially designed cylinder to accomplish this, but hot-wiring bypasses this step. Essentially, the wire carrying the current (called the "live" or "hot" wire) is made to touch the wire that allows the completion of the circuit. Though the specifics may vary from car to car, the general principle is the same.
Significance
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Hot-wiring is the favored method of car theft. It allows the thief to drive the car normally until it reaches the "chop shop," where it will be processed into after-market parts for a high profit. Some cars are easier to steal than others, resulting in a higher incidence of these cars going missing. The most stolen cars are usually Japanese imports, both because their systems are easy to bypass and because the reliability of the cars means there are more of them on the road, making it easier to steal the cars and sell the parts.
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Warning
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Hot-wiring a car is considered a felony (usually "grand theft"), because the typical value of a car is over $1,000. The person caught hot-wiring a car may find himself facing lengthy prison terms, heavy fines or both. Repeat offenders can expect increasingly stiff legal penalties, with some states invoking the "three strikes" rule that allows life imprisonment on the third offense.
Prevention/Solution
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Some automobile owners have taken precautions to prevent the hot-wiring of their cars. These precautions may include the use of the low-tech "club," which is a reinforced steel bar that prevents proper operation of a vehicle, even in the event of a successful hotwire. They may also include the installation of a high-tech anti-theft alarm that alerts the public a crime is being committed. For many vehicle owners, the best solution is to protect the car itself by removing it from areas where it can be stolen in relative privacy: alleyways, dark streets, remote parking places or lots, and high-crime areas.
Potential
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Recent advances in technology have also prevented some hot-wiring attempts. Auto manufacturers are starting to include a microchip in the key that is attuned to the circuit, adding another barrier to hot-wiring. Without the key, the computer that controls the car will not allow the car to start, thus rendering attempts at hot-wiring ineffective. Still, it is not a perfect technology and some automobile thefts occur in spite of it. Some of the most expensive vehicles stolen via hot wiring (according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau) include the 2005 Cadillac Escalade and the 2007 Toyota Corolla.
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