a method and system to prevent auto theft from parking areas , such as airport parking lots , includes a ticket dispenser , at an entry gate , which issues a numbered ticket to each driver . the driver is advised to carry the ticket with him and not to leave it in the car . at the same time the ticket is issued , the a part of its license plate number , is automatically determined and entered into computer memory , in association with the ticket number . at the exit , the ticket is presented by the driver , read by a ticket reader , and its associated license plate data is retrieved from computer memory . also at the exit , part of the license plate of the car is again automatically obtained and compared with the license plate data retrieved from the computer memory . in the event of a mismatch , a warning signal is generated .