The top 25 stolen vehicles in 1997: 1. Honda Accord 2. Toyota Camry 3. Oldsmobile Cutlass 4. Honda Civic 5. Ford Mustang 6. Toyota Corolla 7. Chevrolet C/K pickup 8. Nissan Maxima 9. Jeep Grand Cherokee 10. Ford F-series pickup 11. Jeep Cherokee 12. Cadillac DeVille 13. Ford Taurus 14. Chevrolet Caprice 15. Plymouth Voyager 16. Pontiac Grand Am 17. Oldsmobile Delta 88 18. Ford Escort 19. Chevrolet Camaro 20. Nissan Sentra 21. Dodge Caravan 22. Chevrolet Cavalier 23. Buick LeSabre 24. Acura Legend 25. Buick Century Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau

The new electric club is called the Auto Taser. When the thief breaks in, the Taser sets off an audible alarm . . . 5 seconds later the entire bar is armed, and if the thief touches it, he/she gets 50,000 volts up the ying-yang. Of course, there is not enough amperage to kill the intruder, although the ad for this device does say: "In police studies, taser technology has shown to have a higher instant incapacitation rate than a .38 Special handgun". But I guess not a higher "permanent" incapacitation rate..... Anyway, it's $199.95 from the Obrien Brothers, 1-800-792-4922.

Personally, I'm for a quarter pound of C4 under the drivers seat, with a delay long enough to get out of the area before detonation. You still lose the car, but you are permanently rid of the thief. Enough people do this, hey presto, no more car thieves.