Car Alarms/Car Security Glossary
The following are terms you may come in contact with when researching car alarms and car security programs.
Chop Shop -- A place that specializes in stripping down cars into pieces that can be sold on the car parts market.
Column Collars -- Metal collars that go around the car's column to prevent a thief from being able to get at the ignition switch.
Dual-Stage Sensors -- Car sensors that beep when a car is jostled, then start into a full-fledged siren blast if it happens again.
Salvage Switch -- A salvage switch is when a thief buys a wrecked car, then goes out and steals a car of the same make and model. Then the thief swaps VINs so he gets a new car for the price of the wreck, and the stolen car now appears to be totaled.
Temporary Theft -- A car that is stolen, then abandoned. You may get your car back, but it probably won't be the way you left it.
VIN (vehicle identification number) -- The unique number on every motorized vehicle used in tracking vehicles through changes of ownership; they are particularly useful in recovering vehicles have been stolen.