Car theft is a common and lucrative crime that often leaves you without transportation, theft of personal information, and items stored in your car. Talk about leaving you in a terrible situation! Fortunately, the following proven tips will help you avoid having your car stolen.
Don’t Make It Easy for The Car Thief
The overwhelming majority of car thefts and burglaries are a result of unlocked car doors. Always double-check that you have the keys, that the car windows are up, and the doors are closed and locked. Don’t make it easy for the car thief to gain full access to your car and important belongings.
Don’t Leave Valuable Items Exposed
One way to attract a car thief is to leave a handbag, cell phone, or other high-value items in a visible area of your car. Stow valuables out of sight to discourage smash-and-grab thefts.
Park in Well Lit Areas
As often as possible, park in well lit, well-trafficked locations because car thieves are usually deterred if there’s a chance they’ll be caught. Park away from trees, larger vehicles, etc. Most retail parking lots have security cameras that you could park near for added deterrent purposes.
Be on Guard
It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings for your safety and your vehicles. If you see someone that appears to be loitering around the parking area, it’s advisable to park somewhere else.
Lighting at Home
Having the appropriate lighting at home can be a highly effective theft deterrent, especially if parking in a driveway. Lighting recommendations include motion detection lights that can startle would-be thieves and alert anyone at home. Also, worth mentioning is to keep keys in your home – never in the garage or vehicle.
Add a Lock and an Alarm System
Adding noticeable steering wheel locking devices, like Disklok or Club, to older vehicles that don’t have preventions installed can make great deterrents. Also, adding an alarm system with a noticeable blinking red light can help prevent theft.
Install a Tracking System
While tracking systems won’t prevent theft, they can help find your vehicle after the fact. More recent car models offer tracking via subscription-based services. There are also basic GPS products that can plug into a vehicle’s computer port; however, they are also easy to remove. More advanced, integrated systems like LoJack will require professional installation.
What to Do If Your Car Is Stolen
If you’re a victim of car theft, contact the police right away. Be ready to provide information that includes the vehicle’s year, make, model, and color, along with the VIN and license plate number. In addition, contact the car insurance company within 24 hours of the theft.
Contact us today if you’ve recovered your car from car theft in Arizona and want it checked out to make sure it’s in tip-top shape.
