There is a new form of Car Theft that is sweeping the nation and resulting in millions of dollars worth of stolen items. Auto theft is a big issue in the city of Chicago. And as the automobile industry has adapted to the electronic world, so have the thieves. Now, anybody with a car is at risk of having it broken into, which is why you must take precautions before leaving it on the street. You should also know what kind of coverage you can expect from your auto insurance policy if you become the victim of a car theft.

This new form of theft relates to vehicles with modern electronic locking methods. If you own a car that only requires you to press a button to open the door, otherwise known as a keyless car entry, then you are at risk of a break in. Here is how it works: the thief will use something called a “scanner box,” which has the ability to pop the electronic lock in a matter of seconds. While these scanner boxes are illegal, criminals are available to purchase them from certain underground online services. Law enforcements are investigating these online services to bring an end to the distribution of the scanner boxes. In the meantime, drivers with keyless entry cars should be aware when leaving their cars on the street.

It is important to know whether or not you are covered in a situation like this. If a thief breaks into your car and steals your computer, will your insurance company cover it? Most likely not. First of all, you need to have comprehensive coverage included in your Car Insurance Policy. And even if you do, comprehensive only covers situations where permanent parts of the car are stolen or vandalized, such as a missing motor or broken windshield. So, if your laptop is stolen out of the backseat, your auto insurance will not cover the cost of replacing it.

Drivers with keyless card entry should make sure to not keep valuables in their cars while they are parked and unattended. If you have nowhere else to put your valuables, then at least hide them in your trunk. With new forms of car theft being invented every day, you need to be prepared by keeping your belongings safe. You also need to make sure your car insurance policy is as protective as possible when it comes to theft.