Made me think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfjlqZf6Aao
Two previous threads on the this subject, and the consensus in them seems the pretty much the same as in this thread.
If you have a middling stick shift car it will probably offer a small amount of protection, but if it’s a high end car you’re probably SOL.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=141298&highlight=manual+transmission+theft
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=519866&highlight=manual+transmission+theft
No Taco Bell dogs, but an interesting group. It appeared (it was over a decade ago) that their salaries/wages are payed by the state government, but they had essentially zero operating budget. They were a bit disappointed that I showed up to claim my car, as it was to become a police car. A beater, but unlike the “police car” I rode in you could not see the ground through the floor boards. The phone at the the NCG office was disconnected because they were unable to pay the bill. I had to call Chihuahua City (State capital) office and they would relay via radio. No uniforms unless you count typical vaquero wear. They all had 1911 pattern .45s but no holsters. About 20-30 officers a couple of secretaries and a chief operating out of what was probably a 20 x 12’ office.