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If You Don't Want Your Car Stolen, Make It Pink

pickens writes "A study in the Netherlands illustrates car thieves' preferences. From 2004-2008, the most commonly colored vehicle stolen was black. This may be because black vehicles look more luxurious. Following close behind black were gray/silver automobiles. Of the 109 pink cars in the study, not one was stolen. A bright and uncommon color, like pink, may be as effective deterrent as an expensive security system. Ben Vollaard, who conducted the research, wrote, 'If the aversion to driving a car in an offbeat color is not too high – or if someone actually enjoys it – then buying deterrence through an uncommon car color may be at least as good a deal as buying deterrence through an expensive car security device.'"

3 of 390 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Solution to theft by Mr.+Freeman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There's a similar trick for wrenches in a machine shop. There's a couple sizes of wrench that are extremely common for changing tools on a mill/lathe. What you do is buy a combo wrench (one with a wrench on both ends) and use a chop saw or plasma cutter to cut off the worthless end of the wrench. The wrench still works great for changing tools, but no one steals it because no one wants a "broken" wrench in their toolbox.

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  2. Re:Sanrio's Next Wave of Products by Xemu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The "Hello Kitty Car".

    They are way ahead of you. Outside. And inside.

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  3. Works on underwear too by jmichaelg · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When my boys were growing up, they were constantly stealing my underwear. I made them do their own laundry but they didn't get to that chore as often as they should have so they felt free, despite my protests, to dip into my underwear drawer. Nothing worked until I died my shorts pink.

    My girlfriend thought it was funny but I was just happy to be able to rely on having a clean stash of underwear.