How to steal a car — World's simplest method

It's one of the four ways described in Brad Stone's great article entitled "Pinch My Ride," in the new (August) issue of Wired magazine.

He writes, "Sometimes dealers leave a spare valet key inside the [owner's] manual and neglect to tell the car's new owner. Crooks just rifle through the glove box."

If just one joehead reads the above, ventures out to her or his new vehicle and finds a key in their manual, I will have done my good deed for the day.

Let me know, eh?

Stone's article is a real eye-opener.

Long story short: Ever since cars became equipped with transponder antitheft systems, insurance companies have taken the position that if your car is stolen, the theft must have had owner involvement, since by default the transponder system makes the car unstealable.

Guess what?

That's patently untrue.

But should you be a customer of automobile insurers Unitrin Direct, Geico, Esurance or Progressive, be prepared to be investigated, deposed under oath, and questioned mercilessly should your transponder-equipped car be jacked.

Those are the four insurance companies mentioned by name in Stone's article as having taken their hapless customers to the mat before either denying or grudgingly paying their claims.

Me, I'm not worried.

I'm with Allstate and besides, my 1988 car hasn't even learned how to spell transponder.