8 Tips to Defend Yourself Against Auto Theft
In 2010, over 700,00 vehicle were reported stolen, costing car owners a total loss of more than $50 million. Every year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety releases a report of the most stolen cars and includes steps you can take to deter a car theft. Despite all this, in the United States, a car is still stolen every 24 seconds. Even with all the available information and new anti-theft technology that is included in each new-year model cars auto theft continues to thrive.
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your vehicle and to avoid the time, financial burden and overall hassle of a stolen car.
1. Don't advertise your anti-theft system.
It is very important to have a good quality anti-theft system installed in your car. Most cars come with one factory installed however, it is smart to add extra anti-theft features after market. You should skip the sticker on your window advertising what type of system it is, because when you display this information you could actually be helping thieves know what they have to do to get around the system. It's also important to avoid displaying a sticker for your audio system; this could lure more potential thieves to your car.
2. Purchase additional safety features for your car.
Since it seems like everything from a loud Harley to a rumbling garbage truck can set off a car alarm, so people have been conditioned to tune them out. Instead of a motion-sensitive car alarm, one that is activated by loud noise or someone just bumping into your car, upgrade to one that has a pager that will notify you as soon as your alarm is activated when your vehicle has been breached.
3. Check for exposed wiring.
Do not leave any part of your car alarm system exposed or easily accessible from the outside. A good option to keep your car safe is a car lock hood cable. These cables can keep a thief from gaining easy access to your battery or car alarm.
4. Don't leave valuables exposed in your car.
Anything left in plain view exposed in your car is a temptation for car thieves to break in and take it. Keep your valuables out of plain sight - take them with you or store them in the trunk of your car. Leaving your valuables exposed gives a thief a reason to break your window and cause expensive damage.
5. Get a steering wheel lock
When you lock your steering wheel in place, the car is useless to any driver but the one who is able to disable the steering wheel lock. No steering means no driving. This small added anti-theft devise can make all the difference.
6. Never leave your keys in the car.
Never leave your keys in your car for any reason. If you are in the habit of leaving them in the ignition when you are parked or even for a quick errand, break that habit fast because you might turn around and find your car gone. Car theft is mostly a crime of opportunity, if you jump out of your car to drop something off or run to the mailbox, a thief may see the opportunity to jump in and drive away.
7. Remove all personal information from your car.
It is smart to keep your registration and insurance information with you instead of storing it in your cars glove box. These documents usually include your home address, when this information is in the hands of thieves, they can use them to rob your house or to steal your identity. Likewise, do not to leave a spare garage door opener or house key in your car, a thief could take these and break into your home later.
8. Be smart about where you park.
Whenever possible, park in lots and garages that have security or a parking lot attendant. If you can't park in a safe lot or garage, try and park near a heavy traffic area. Parking in a well visited area will deter car thieves from trying to break into your car with witnesses around. If possible, opt to pay the extra couple of dollars for a monitored parking lot. When you are parked at home, leave your car in a lighted area or in your home garage. It is much less safe to leave a car parked on the street.
Auto theft is ultimately a crime of opportunity, so when you take away as many opportunities as possible for a thief to access your car you increase your chances of keeping your car secure. So take a proactive approach to security when you leave your car unattended.
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your vehicle and to avoid the time, financial burden and overall hassle of a stolen car.
1. Don't advertise your anti-theft system.
It is very important to have a good quality anti-theft system installed in your car. Most cars come with one factory installed however, it is smart to add extra anti-theft features after market. You should skip the sticker on your window advertising what type of system it is, because when you display this information you could actually be helping thieves know what they have to do to get around the system. It's also important to avoid displaying a sticker for your audio system; this could lure more potential thieves to your car.
2. Purchase additional safety features for your car.
Since it seems like everything from a loud Harley to a rumbling garbage truck can set off a car alarm, so people have been conditioned to tune them out. Instead of a motion-sensitive car alarm, one that is activated by loud noise or someone just bumping into your car, upgrade to one that has a pager that will notify you as soon as your alarm is activated when your vehicle has been breached.
3. Check for exposed wiring.
Do not leave any part of your car alarm system exposed or easily accessible from the outside. A good option to keep your car safe is a car lock hood cable. These cables can keep a thief from gaining easy access to your battery or car alarm.
4. Don't leave valuables exposed in your car.
Anything left in plain view exposed in your car is a temptation for car thieves to break in and take it. Keep your valuables out of plain sight - take them with you or store them in the trunk of your car. Leaving your valuables exposed gives a thief a reason to break your window and cause expensive damage.
5. Get a steering wheel lock
When you lock your steering wheel in place, the car is useless to any driver but the one who is able to disable the steering wheel lock. No steering means no driving. This small added anti-theft devise can make all the difference.
6. Never leave your keys in the car.
Never leave your keys in your car for any reason. If you are in the habit of leaving them in the ignition when you are parked or even for a quick errand, break that habit fast because you might turn around and find your car gone. Car theft is mostly a crime of opportunity, if you jump out of your car to drop something off or run to the mailbox, a thief may see the opportunity to jump in and drive away.
7. Remove all personal information from your car.
It is smart to keep your registration and insurance information with you instead of storing it in your cars glove box. These documents usually include your home address, when this information is in the hands of thieves, they can use them to rob your house or to steal your identity. Likewise, do not to leave a spare garage door opener or house key in your car, a thief could take these and break into your home later.
8. Be smart about where you park.
Whenever possible, park in lots and garages that have security or a parking lot attendant. If you can't park in a safe lot or garage, try and park near a heavy traffic area. Parking in a well visited area will deter car thieves from trying to break into your car with witnesses around. If possible, opt to pay the extra couple of dollars for a monitored parking lot. When you are parked at home, leave your car in a lighted area or in your home garage. It is much less safe to leave a car parked on the street.
Auto theft is ultimately a crime of opportunity, so when you take away as many opportunities as possible for a thief to access your car you increase your chances of keeping your car secure. So take a proactive approach to security when you leave your car unattended.
About the Author:
About the Author - This article was written by Al Boenker Insurance, an industry leader in Texas auto insurance. We have over 40 years of experience serving the Texas area and we specialize in providing our customers with customized advice about auto insurance in Texas as well as getting the lowest rate out there.