There are almost 2.5 million car break-ins every year — an average of 281 every hour of every day. Your car stereo is an investment — protect it with adequate insurance coverage and a good car alarm system.

You've just left the big concert at the coliseum and you're headed to your car. As you walk onto the parking lot, you scan the rows of cars for your vehicle before spotting it across the way. You notice bits of glass glistening on the pavement near your car and you get that sinking feeling that something isn't right.

As you get closer, your fears are realized; the driver's side window is smashed. You peer into the car to see bare wires protruding from the dash where your receiver used to be. Your cell phone is missing and so is a case containing 50 of your favorite CDs. Your pair of 12-inch subwoofers and their enclosure are gone. You've been ripped off. Some low-life has trashed your car and taken the killer sound system you enjoyed so much.

No one wants to get ripped off, but it happens every day across the country. Is there anything you can do to prevent it?

The FBI lists two types of larceny from automobiles. One category is "theft from motor vehicles," which is defined as the taking of items such as packages, purses, wallets, and so forth. The other category is theft of "accessories," things like stereo equipment, wheels, and other items that are "attached" to the car.

In 2001, there were 720,000 reports of "accessory thefts" from vehicles in the United States. There were an additional 1.75 million thefts of items from vehicles. Together, that's almost 2.5 million car break-ins in one year — an average of 281 every hour of every day. Even scarier — the actual number of car break-ins is probably a lot higher since many thefts go unreported.

If you own aftermarket stereo or video equipment, you are at greater risk of a rip-off. Crooks often peek into windows to see what goodies are available. If they spot a nice subwoofer enclosure or an expensive head unit, you can bet they'll go after it. Many stereo owners make life easier for these punks by plastering audio brand name stickers on their windows. These are like magnets for the bad guys.

Buying a stereo or video system for your car is a serious investment, so it makes sense to insure your gear against potential loss. Basically there are two types of automobile insurance: collision and comprehensive. Collision coverage protects you against loss in the event of an accident. Comprehensive coverage protects against other kinds of loss. A comprehensive policy may or may not cover your aftermarket audio and video equipment — it all depends on the specifics of your policy.

Sure, reading an insurance policy is boring, but you should make sure you are covered against theft if you install expensive new car audio/video gear. A quick call to your insurance agent may answer your questions. It may be necessary to purchase a "rider" for your existing policy. A rider is a specific agreement between you and the insurance company that provides coverage of specific items like head units, speakers, and so forth. A rider will cost a few bucks, but it will pay off big time if your stuff is ever stolen.

Another piece of advice — write down the serial numbers of all your audio and video components, keep the store receipts for everything (even the wiring), and take a few snapshots of the car's interior and exterior. You must be able to prove you owned a killer sound system before the insurance company will pay to replace it.

A well-equipped alarm system like Crime Guard's CG745i3 features a shock sensor, a glass-breakage sensor, microwave motion detection, a siren, and remote control functionality.

In the final analysis, the best insurance is to avoid being ripped off. There are several things you can do to help protect your car from thieves; police often refer to these steps as "making your car a hard target." Criminals tend to take the path of least resistance. If they have to work too hard to steal your stuff, they'll probably move on to someone else.

Here are a few "Hard Target" tips:

• Park in a secured garage if possible or park in a well-lighted, high traffic location.
• Invest in a good anti-theft alarm.
• Lock the doors, roll up the windows, and take the keys with you every time you park your car.
• Never leave anything of value visible in the car.
• Try to install audio and video equipment inconspicuously; go stealth.
• We know you're proud of your stereo, but avoid putting brand logo stickers on the windows.

Stealth head units like this Kenwood KDC-X969 leave only a plain, black panel when powered down. You can also detach the face plate and take it with you when you leave the car.

Even if you take all the precautions you can think of, you can still get ripped off. If so, you should know what to do. Here is some good advice if your car has been hit:

• Approach the vehicle VERY carefully; make sure the thief has left the scene — remember, your stereo isn't worth your life.
• Call the police.
• If you are parked at a mall, the airport, etc., contact their parking lot security force.
• Make a list of all items that are missing.
• Don't contaminate the crime scene; avoid touching the car until police have conducted an investigation.
• Make sure your vehicle can be operated safely before driving it.
• Call your insurance agent.

Jacob Tucker is a freelance journalist with 15 years of experience writing about electronics and cars, and is an occasional contributor to Crutchfield.