While a lot of techniques for avoiding car theft might seem to be fairly obvious (we’ll cover a few of those in just a minute), some aren’t really at all. For example, did you know that there are specific types of cars which thieves tend to go after? To find out if your auto is on this list all you really need to do is to go to Google and do a search for “most stolen cars”. In other words, if avoiding car theft is on your mind, it would do you well to avoid purchasing one of the more vulnerable models. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s explore some conventional ways to avoid having your car stolen.
First off, remember to lock your doors, all of them. More often than not, thieves don’t have to bust the glass out of a vehicle before they steal it, they simply go around from car to car checking to see if any have been left unlocked. In other words, don’t become a target simply because you were too lazy to make sure you locked your doors. If you’re prone to losing your keys or locking them inside your car, be sure to have a spare made which you can give to a friend or store in a safe location.
Next, get an alarm system installed if you don’t have one already. Today, alarm systems (for any make / model car) are relatively inexpensive and fairly easy to install, so there’s no reason why you should avoid getting one. At the same time, there are plenty of businesses and car repair specialists who will be able to install an alarm system for you, so take advantage of this opportunity; it might prevent a major theft.
Statistically speaking, one of the most likely places to have your car stolen or vandalized is a parking garage. Moreover, most cars which are stolen from parking complexes tend to be located more closely toward the exits. So, try to avoid parking your auto anywhere near the exit of a parking garage if at all possible. Similarly, look for a well-lit area to park your car in a garage. Likewise, be mindful of where any security cameras might be placed, and try to position your auto in a zone that’s covered by one of these monitoring devices. Furthermore, some parking lots and complexes feature guards and security 24/7, which is arguably the place that you want to be. Of course these lots will probably charge a little more than those which don’t feature any additional security but for those who are worried and/or might be parking in a somewhat “suspect” location / area, it is well worth the cost.
Lastly, don’t become a target by leaving your valuable objects in plan sight. This means you should avoid leaving things like smartphones, laptops or GPS devices in places which are clearly visible to passerby’s and would-be criminals; instead, place them under the seat, in the floorboard of the back seat area or perhaps in the trunk.
