Car Theft Prevention Tips

Hundreds of thousands of cars are reported stolen in the U.S. every year, in spite of the fact that we have seen an overall decline in car thefts in the early part of the decade, compared to those previously. Regardless of what the numbers say, it’s still a rampant problem that affects many people every year, and it can be not only traumatizing and frustrating, but also very costly and inconvenient when you’re the victim. In order to reduce the odds of falling victim to a car thief, here are some of the best measures you can take.

No Hidden Spare Keys

While it’s tempting to hide a spare key on or around your automobile(and many people do it), it’s one of the easiest ways to put yourself at risk. The more obstacles you can create for a potential vehicle thief, the less likely you are to have your vehicle stolen. If it’s as easy as searching the wheel well for a magnetic key holder, your odds or being a victim increase dramatically. Car thieves tend to know the tricks and knowing where and how spare keys are hidden is often one of the first tactics they resort to.

Park In Well Lit Areas

Car thieves don’t want to be noticed or seem conspicuous when they’re inspecting a potential target and the cloak of darkness provides opportunity for them. If you park in a well lit and easily observable area, you decrease the chances that someone will snoop around your vehicle or potentially break into or it or attempt to steal it. Obviously, a garage or more secure area is preferred, but if that’s not an option, try to park in areas with streets lights or motion detecting lights, and ideally in an area where neighbors will be able to notice if something fishy is going on.

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Don’t Leave Valuables in the Car

If there’s nothing in your auto worth breaking into it for, you probably won’t be the victim of a break-in. That’s not to say that your car couldn’t still be stolen, but the less temptation there is, the less likely someone will be poking around, looking in your windows, or getting other ideas. If you do need to keep something valuable in your car, store it an area that can’t be seen to reduce your risk.

Alarm System

While an alarm system isn’t a foolproof way to prevent your car from being stolen, it is a strong deterrent. Potential thieves don’t want any attention drawn to them so an alarm that does that with an audible component is a good way to keep them away. Even an indication of the presence of an alarm, such as a warning sticker or dim light that periodically flashes can ward off a would-be thief.

Immobilizing & Recovery Systems

If you really want to be proactive in protecting your vehicle, you can have an immobilizing device installed. This way, if someone does steal your car or try to hotwire it, you can render it undriveable to thwart their efforts. Another option that can help police track down your car is a recovery system that allows you to track the vehicle if it’s stolen so that authorities can find it more easily.