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How to Deter Car Burglars and Thieves
Do you know that a car is stolen every 27 seconds? In any given year, there will be more than one million motor vehicles stolen and many of these will never be recovered. In order not to become a car theft statistic, be smart when it comes to your car, and exercise the many ways that can deter a burglar from targeting your car.
Eight Ways to Prevent Your Car From Being Burglarized
- Install an anti theft device. This is one of the greatest deterrents to would be car thieves. The most popular anti theft devices that are available include car alarms, steering wheel locks, radio receivers or transmitters, glass sensors, immobilizers, fuel-kill switches, and ignition-kill switches.
- Never leave your car running if you are not in it, even if it is just for a few minutes. If you turn your car off and get out, never leave the keys in the ignition. Approximately 20 percent of all cars that are burglarized or stolen had keys left in them.
- Always lock your car doors, regardless of whether you are at home, at work, at the shopping mall, at a social function, or etc. It is estimated that 50 percent of all cars that are burglarized were not locked.
- If you have a garage at home, do not hesitate to use it. Make sure that you securely lock the door (double check it if you must) after you have driven it inside. Cars are always more vulnerable to burglars if they are parked in driveways or on street corners.
- Never leave anything valuable sitting out in plain sight in your car because this is only an open invitation to be robbed. Instead, lock valuables, such as your laptop or digital camera, in the trunk or place it under a blanket on the seat or the floor of the car. If the item is small enough, put it in the glove compartment where anyone walking by can not see it.
- When parking, always think safety for yourself and for your car. Choose spots that are well lit, and preferably, well traveled, especially when you are out at night. Be aware that over half of all car burglaries take place in the late evening or nighttime hours.
- Make sure that your vehicle identification number (VIN) is etched into the windows of your vehicle and on other essential parts of the car because cars that are stolen are much easier to trace and recover if this is done.
When it is necessary to park on a street, always make sure to turn the wheels of your car towards the curb because this makes it much more difficult for your car to be towed by a thief. When parking in driveways or parking lots, always turn your wheels to the side as well. Always use your emergency brake when parking on the street and, if possible, park between other vehicles.
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