We spoke with Phil Jones, Crutchfield Product Support Manager, about installing an alarm.

Protecting your vehicle, and everything in it, from theft is certainly a concern for most people, and an alarm makes a great preventative measure. But how much security do you really need? And what should you expect if you try to install it yourself?

We spoke with Phil Jones, Crutchfield's Product Support Manager, about the ins and outs of car security. He gave us some useful general tips concerning choosing and installing an alarm.

How much security do I need? Is there such a thing as too much?
With all the alarm choices out there, each with its own set of features, it's easy to get overwhelmed when trying to decide which alarm to buy and install. Basic packages generally consist of a control module (also referred to as the alarm brain) and a few sensors that trip when the doors are opened. Upgrades in higher-end alarm packages tend to include features like hood and trunk protection; starter interrupt circuits; glass-break, impact, or motion sensors; remote start modules; and inputs for remote functions, such as trunk releases and window roll-up modules.

We asked Phil if, sometimes, there's such a thing as too much security.

"There's such a thing as spending an awful lot of money and an awful lot of time on a system that can still be defeated," he said. "You can make it more difficult, but you cannot eliminate a professional [thief]. You can discourage."

Alarms are still pretty useful, right?

"I think they're better than not having an alarm," he laughed.

So, from a security standpoint, what's the basic difference between lower-end and higher-end alarms?

"Security-wise, the lower-end alarm is going to offer you everything the higher-end alarm [will]...typically the upgrades are features."

In the end, if installed correctly, a basic alarm package is effective as a theft deterrent. If you'd like more features, such as auxiliary channels for remote applications, higher-end alarms are perfect. But if it's simple security you need, you can certainly take your budget into consideration and still feel reasonably confident.