Auto Theft Prevention Tips
1. Always take your keys.
Nearly 20% of all vehicles stolen have keys in them.
2. Always lock your vehicle.
Approximately 50% of all vehicles stolen are left unlocked.
3. Never hide a second set of keys in your vehicle.
Extra keys can easily be found if a car thief takes time to look.
4. Park in well-lit areas.
Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night.
5. Park in parking garages or attended lots.
Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.
6. Never leave your car running, even if you will only be gone for a minute.
Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATM's, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up.
7. Completely close your car windows when parking.
Don't make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
9. Don't leave valuables in plain view.
Don't make your car a more desirable target and attract thieves by leaving valuables in plain sight.
10. Park with your wheels turned towards the curb.
Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also be turned to the side in driveways and parking lots.
11. If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive, back into your driveway.
Front-wheel drive vehicles should be parked front end first. On four-wheel drive vehicles the rear wheels sometimes lock, making them difficult to tow.
12. Always use your emergency brake when parking.
In addition to ensuring safety, using the emergency brake makes your car harder to tow.
13. If you have a garage, use it.
If you have a garage, take the time to use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable.
14. When parking in a garage, lock the garage door and your vehicle.
By locking both the garage and vehicle doors, the chances of deterring a thief greatly improve.
15. Don't leave the registration or title in your car.
A car thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title at your home or office, and carry registration in your purse or wallet.
16. Drop business cards, address labels, or other I.D. inside vehicle doors.
Car thieves usually alter vehicle identification numbers. By marking your vehicle a much as possible, you assist police in identifying your car.
17. Alarms.
Loud warnings sound when doors/hood/trunk are opened. Optional sensors include glass breakage, motion, tampering and towing. Panic buttons, back-up batteries, flashing parking lights or headlights, and automatic engine disable features are also recommended.
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