If you've played (or watched someone play) Grand Theft Auto, you would probably think that car theft is cool and comical. But that's a game about a, well, stealing cars. In real life, car theft is not - and will never be - cool. This is true, especially if you have experienced checking out your garage one day only to find out your car is gone. And there's no way you could misplace your own vehicle. Not to fearmonger, but it's always better to be safe than be sorry in the future. That's why you should make time and ways to protect your car from thieves. And with that, here are foolproof ways to prevent car theft.
According to FBI, the number of auto theft and attempted auto theft in the US declined year after year since the early 1990s. For 2018, there are 748,841 vehicles stolen. That number is less than that of 2017's, which has 772,943 cases of car theft reported. The year with the most car theft reported is 1991, which has more than 1.7 million cars reported that year. But even though there are fewer and fewer car theft situations each year, the industry observes that car thefts have become more sophisticated in stealing vehicles. The use of electronic keys and the interchanging of vehicle identification numbers are just two of the many modus car burglars use nowadays.
Now to help you, here are some tips on how to keep your car from being stolen by the bad guys.
As much as everyone wants to check on their car all the time, we can't watch over it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That's why there are car manufacturers who offer cars with installed anti-theft systems. But if your vehicle doesn't have one, it's recommended to install an anti-theft device or an audible alarm system. The latter, when switched on, sets off a loud alarm noise once it senses someone trying to get in your car. Anti-theft tools like a steering wheel lock and a flashing light system also helps in discouraging thieves from taking your vehicle away. You can install these devices by yourself, but let's stay away from the chance of these not working. You can hire a mechanic to do it for you instead, so you'd let out a sigh of relief knowing your car is secured.
This is already common sense, but we can't blame people sometimes. We often forget to hide valuable items inside our cars like bags and phones away where thieves outside can see. But doing so is pivotal; essential and expensive items seen from outside the vehicle lures in carnappers to do some "window shopping". And you'd be considered lucky when thieves are only after your belongings - imagine if you left your car keys inside. When you're not bringing valuable, steal-worthy items you own, hide them inside the trunk or under the driver or passenger seat. Also, don't leave your car keys inside the car, even for just a second, and make sure to lock your cars before leaving it.
Regardless of how you make everything secure, there would always be a chance that a thief can get away with it. When this happens, the most important thing to do is to recover your car before the thief can chop its parts off or take it to another country. A tracking system can help you and the authorities in locating your vehicle once a thief stole the car away and run. Trackers work by sending a signal to the police or a tracking service that the vehicle is in the said location. This will give the police to plan out and intercept the car more effectively. Just like the alarm systems, however, it's much better if a professional will install the tracker for you.
Car thieves often prey on cars parked in the darkest spot of the parking lot or when it's parked outside a dark place at night. So keep in mind, as a safety precaution, when you park your car on a parking lot at night time, park where a light can illuminate it. That way, you'd be able to see your vehicle from a distance. It also helps when you park it in a section where other cars are parked or where there is a crowd. Car thieves don't waste their time on these areas as much.
The takeaway here is to always be vigilant and protect yourself from car theft at all costs, regardless of whether you have a brand new car or a used car. Follow these tips so to keep your car secured and away from burglars' attention.
