Auto thieves prefer large parking lots which offer a wide selection and little chance of owners returning quickly. Aggressive patrol is an important deterrent in shopping mall lots but depends on cooperation between mall security and local police. Stealing from airport lots is difficult because tickets are required for exit and carefully checked. Motel and company parking lots experience little theft, but it is a major problem for car rental agencies. Their preventive measures include checking a customer's credit card, placing barriers and guards at entrances and exits, and installing antitheft devices in cars. One widely used apparatus disconnects the car's ignition and locks the hood, while others stall the engine before the thief drives away or sound a siren at a variety of intrusions. Commonsense measures include locking the car and closing the windows, parking in a heavily trafficked and well-lighted location in a lot, and placing valuables in the trunk. Concealing an identifying mark on the car and carrying identification details in a wallet can help an owner recover a stolen car. Possibly the most effective deterrent to theft is the VIN which manufacturers imprint on the dashboards and portions of the engine and transmission and is registered with the National Crime Information Center. This year Congress will again consider a law requiring all manufacturers to imprint the VIN on all major components, enacting criminal penalties for tampering with the VIN, and making the importing and exporting of stolen vehicles a Federal offense.