Want to make your car less attractive to car thieves? The sooner a car thief can steal your car, the more attractive it becomes. Do whatever you can to thwart professional and car thieves, and your car will be a less attractive target, say CarYanams experts. Car theft prevention measures are essential to keeping your car safe. This is where tips to avoid car theft emerge as heroes.
In 2019, the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program reported that more than $6 billion was lost to auto theft nationwide 2019. More than 70% of these thefts involve cars. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a car was stolen every 39 seconds in the United States in 2020.
We’ve put together 12 tips to avoid car theft you can take to reduce your overall risk and prevent your car from being stolen.
Tips to Avoid Car Theft
Here are some tips to avoid car theft GEICO recommends drivers protect their vehicles:
- Always lock your vehicle, even when you’re driving. Unlocked doors are an easy target.
- Never leave your keys in your car when parking.
- Make sure the windows are completely closed so thieves can’t try to open the doors from the inside.
- Never leave your car unattended. Even if the doors are locked, car thieves can get in by simply breaking a window.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car. Hide valuables such as your cell phone, wallet, and other valuables.
- Don’t leave your vehicle registration in the car. Car thieves can often get pulled over and evade police because they can show the car’s registration. (If multiple drivers use the vehicle, it’s best to hide a note in a secret place in the car that only the owner will know.)
- Know where you’re going. Avoid areas known to have high crime rates, even if the travel route takes longer.
- If your vehicle doesn’t have an anti-theft system, install one. Thieves are less likely to try to steal your car if they know they can get it back quickly. Many insurance companies offer discounts for the types of plans.
- Thieves prefer to work in the dark. Be especially careful about where you park your car at night.
- Look around you, especially in garages, parking lots, and gas stations. If you see someone wandering, move your car.
- Have your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) stamped into each window. Car thieves want to get away with it as cheaply as possible. You don’t want to incur the expense of replacing the entire glass.
- Place your car on a hill, in park mode or with the car in gear, and turn the wheels against a curb or other obstacle. This makes it more difficult for a thief to tow your car. If a car thief attacks you, don’t resist. Cars can be replaced, but not traded.
Types of anti-theft systems
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- A steering wheel locking mechanism can be a very visible sign that you are taking steps to protect your vehicle.
- Ignition interlock systems prevent the car from starting.
- Some new cars have passive alarms that activate automatically when the key is removed from the ignition.
- The system sends out a signal that can be tracked by police
Who are you dealing with?
- Professional thieves
Professionals commit the most car thefts. They prefer high-performance cars, as well as more popular models that are less eccentric and have interchangeable parts These thieves usually give the cars they steal to an auto repair shop. They sometimes steal cars to export to other countries, and often “steal to order” to fulfil a request for a specific type of car.
- Car thieves
Car thieves prefer high-performance and luxury cars.
- Collision Robbery
Car thieves may attack your car from behind when you get out of the car to inspect the damage and steal your car. At traffic lights, leave enough space to be able to manoeuvre around the vehicle in front of you if necessary. If you have been hit by another vehicle and feel in danger, drive to a populated area or, if you have a mobile phone, call the police for help.
What should I do if my car is stolen?
You should file a stolen vehicle report and request a copy of the report from your insurance company. According to the NHTSA, you should provide the following information to the police:
License plate number
The make, model, and colour of your car
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and other identifying features
Car theft should be reported to your insurance company as soon as possible, preferably within the first 24 hours.
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