(December 25, 2010) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Despite car alarms and anti-theft devices, over one million vehicles are stolen every year in the United States. Edmunds.com recently interviewed a real-life former car thief to discover the methods and mindset of criminals who make their living stealing cars.

In this four-part series titled Confessions of a Car Thief, a former car thief holds nothing back as he tells the story of how he ended up on the streets stealing cars. He explains which cars were the easiest to steal and the methods he commonly used to take them, and provides advice on how car owners can protect their vehicles from thieves like him.

"People don't realize how easy it is for their car to be stolen, particularly if they get a little careless," said Philip Reed, Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor. "Most of what we learned from an actual thief boils down to common sense, but there's nothing like hearing it from a professional to reinforce that these steps actually will keep most cars safe from theft."

The article concludes with these five recommendations to help car owners avoid being victimized:

    • Always remove your keys and lock all doors and windows, no matter how briefly you'll be away from your car.
    • Park in well-lit areas when possible.
    • Get a car alarm or warning device to at least deter, if not prevent, theft.
    • Equip your car with an immobilizing device, such as a fuse cut-off, kill switch, or smart key, which prevent a thief from being able bypass the ignition.
    • Use a tracking device that will allow authorities to recover your vehicle more quickly if it is reported stolen.