To most of us, our vehicles are one of the most important possessions we own. Our cars provide transportation for us and our families to and from work, school and all the places in between.
Car Thief Breaking into a Vehicle, Courtesy of ELcivics.com
Protect you car as if it’s your home!
We take extra precautions to protect our houses from being broken into and robbed, but many of us forget that our vehicles are also targets of theft.
I don’t know about you, but my car is like my home away from home, as well as my means of transportation to and from work, and I need to work to make money. So, I guess you could say that my livelihood depends on my car.
Tips to keep your car safe from auto theft:
1.) Car alarm equipped with a pager.
First, if your vehicle already has an alarm, great! If you’re thinking about buying one or upgrading your existing alarm, you may want to consider an alarm system with a pager, which will alert you as soon as the car alarm is activated.
- Have a professional install your car alarm.
Instead of enlisting a large chain retailers to install your car alarm, take your vehicle to a professional to have it installed. Professional installers know exactly how to make your car elusive to thieves. - Don’t display car alarm decals or stickers.
Displaying stickers revealing the type of alarm installed in your vehicle will allow thieves to plan which method to use when breaking into your car. This knowledge also makes it possible for crooks to disarm the alarm faster and easier.
2.) Stowe away valuables.
Don’t tempt thieves! Leaving valuables like a mounted GPS device, portable CD player/iPod or radar detector will likely allure thieves to your car.
3.) Never leave your keys in the ignition while your car is unattended.
Car thieves are constantly looking for opportunities to steal. An unattended car with the keys in the ignition and/or engine running is definitely a sure thing for a car thief.
4.) Don’t leave personal information in your car.
It may seem impractical, but it’s safer for you and your family if you keep your vehicle registration, insurance info and title with you instead of in the glove box or other places in your car. Anything with your home address and other personal info will give a thief a one up on you, and could potentially attempt robbing your home or stealing your identity.
5.) Use VIN-etching to make your car less attractive to criminals.
VIN-etching is a process which involves etching your car’s VIN on important vehicle parts. This preventative step makes it easier for police to identify stolen cars and more difficult for the stolen car/parts to be sold. Also, some insurance companies offer a discount for those vehicles utilizing VIN-etching.
