Criminals are using technology and more sophisticated techniques to steal vehicles and items from vehicles. Here are several ways you can protect your car from theft.
Check your car is locked
When you press your key fob, you might automatically think your car has been locked. However, this isn’t always the case, you might be too far away from your vehicle for it to lock, or your key batteries could be running out. In addition, some thieves use blocking devices to stop the signal from reaching the car. So even if you press your key fob close to your car, your vehicle might not lock. Checking your car doors is one way to ensure that your vehicle is locked when you walk away. Some also display a visual or audible sign, such as the flashing of the lights or a beep when the car is locked.
Think about where you park
When you leave your car unattended, you’re taking some level of risk. To minimise this risk, you should think carefully about where your car is parked before leaving it alone. Car parks that CCTV covers are much safer than unregulated car parks. Avoid parking your car away from other vehicles and in dimly lit areas. Choose a parking spot with good visibility and lighting and near other motorists. This will reduce the chances that thieves will target your vehicle.
Add a car alarm
A car alarm is likely to deter theft; many car alarms flash, so thieves will see when a car is fitted with an alarm. In addition, if your car alarm goes off, it will attract attention from people nearby and other motorists. If you’re in your home, you will come out to see what’s going on if your car alarm is activated. By adding one to your vehicle, you can reduce the likelihood of theft.
Car tracker
A car tracker won’t protect your car from theft, but it will enable you to locate it again if it’s been stolen. You can work with the police to trace and find your vehicle again if it’s stolen and has a tracker installed.
Locking wheel nuts
Wheel alloys are a common target for thieves; they’re fairly easy to make and very hard to trace once they’ve been stolen. One way to prevent this is to use locking wheel nuts; there are different varieties of locking wheel nuts that can be used to prevent wheel theft. If you’ve spent a lot of money on your alloys, you’ll want to invest in high-quality locking wheel nuts.
Secure your keys
The easiest way for vehicle thieves to steal your car is to take the keys. Never leave your keys unattended in public places, and be careful where you place your bag. Thieves may go into your bag and take your keys when you’re not looking. In addition, thieves have been known to enter homes or use hooks through the letterbox to get a hold of your keys. Always keep them out of sight and not too close to your front door. Never leave them on a windowsill with an open window, as this could attract opportunist thieves.
Lock your car when at a standstill
On some occasions, you’ll be at a standstill in traffic, or you’ll need to wait in a car park until your windows clear of condensation. Thieves can approach you during this time and drag you out of the car to take your vehicle. To stop this from happening, always make sure you lock your doors when entering your vehicle. If you make this a habit, you are much less likely to be caught with open doors when you’re in your car at a standstill.
Hide your valuables
Avoid leaving valuables in your vehicle; take these with you where possible. If this is not possible, make sure all valuables are out of sight, hidden in your glove box or covered up in the boot. If thieves see something of value, such as a laptop or phone, on the seat, they may try to break the window to steal the item or wait until you get back to your car and take it before you have a chance to lock the vehicle again.