Unless you live in a big city that heavily relies on public transportation, there’s a good chance you own a car. As much as you might love driving while singing at the top of your lungs or using your vehicle as extra storage space while you travel to and from work, there are some safety precautions to keep mind. Follow these 5 tips so that your car will be better protected against theft.
1. Lock Your Car Doors
Locking the doors on your vehicle should be a no brainer, but it’s easy to forget when you’re transporting groceries inside or experiencing a busy day with lots of other things on your mind. When you lock your car doors, it prevents thieves from having access to your belongings if they were to jiggle the door handle. If you have a key fob that automatically locks all your car doors, remember to listen for the beep before walking away. Getting in this habit will almost guarantee that your car is secured.
2. Remove Valuables that are in Sight
Smash-and-grab situations are very common when someone walks by and sees something of value in the backseat of your car. To prevent broken windows and additional damage to your vehicle, make sure to move jackets, bags, or other valuables into the trunk. Another good idea is to completely clean out your car and remove everything that can’t be easily stored in the center console.
3. Park in Well Lit Areas
Poorly lit areas or dark alleys are a criminal’s best friend. Think about it, it’s easier to get away with crime if no one can see it happen. Cars parked in the back of parking lots or in areas with little to no lighting make the best target for vehicle theft. Before parking somewhere for dinner or at the end of the night, look around and try to spot an area underneath a streetlamp or around other cars in a well-lit area.
4. Roll Up Your Windows
Ever have it start pouring down rain and you realize you left your car windows down? Yeah, not a good situation to be in. Get in the habit of rolling up your windows when you park your car (even if it’s only for a few minutes). If your windows are up, no one can reach in and tamper with the belongings in your vehicle.
5. Do Not Leave A Spare Key in the Vehicle
I’m sure you’ve seen movies where someone is breaking into a car, they pull the sun visor down, and a key suddenly falls into their lap. While it’s lucky for the thief in that situation, it’s obviously unlucky for the car owner. To make sure your car is protected, remove any extra keys you might have in the glove box, trunk, or center console. Instead, keep the extra car key on a keyring by your front of your door or in another area that you’ll easily remember.
If you’re interested to know what type of crime is in your area where you park your car every day, fill out a crime report to see how certain zip codes rank.
Categories: Burglary, Safety Tips
