A sure-fire way of car theft prevention is to own a mechanically well-maintained vehicle that from outward appearances, looks like a old clunker.

Friends on mine that even have 10 year old vehicles, and are kept in showroom condition, have had their vehicles stolen in the workplace parking lot.

On a dare one-time, in the same parking lot, I kept my vehicle unlocked and the key in the ignition for a week, and it was never touched.  Now, I will qualify that with saying if the vehicle was stolen, I am financially well-off that getting another vehicle, without filing an insurance claim, would have been no problem.

It's a pity that the egos of mainstream society are tied into how upscale and prominent their vehicles appear.  What I consider "vehicle eye-candy" just sets up the owners to get their vehicles stolen.

I do understand the appeal of having an upscale, or luxury, vehicle that looks great.  But, just as a fellow board of directors friend of mine experienced back in the 1980's, when he used to drive a Mercedes:  He seemed to be a target of nefarious people with that car.  Once he got rid of the Mercedes and bought a pickup truck with some miles on it, he was left alone.

I'm perfectly content with driving my beatup appearing 20 year old Honda Civic.  No one bothers me with what appears to be a wreck of a car.  On those ocassions where an upscale or luxury vehicle is needed, I'll rent the wheels.