How To Protect Your Car From Thieves

There is nothing worse than going to your car only to find it has disappeared and you have been the victim of car theft. For many people, this can open a whole host of different problems especially if personal details and documentation have been left in the vehicle.

We often read about simple ways to protect your car from thieves but how many of us actually take up these suggestions?

We will now take a look at some simple ways that you can protect your car from thieves and make your vehicle as unattractive as possible to the modern-day criminal.

Do Not Leave Valuables In Your Car

Time and time again the police warn motorists that leaving valuables on show in their vehicle is like a red rag to a bull for a car thief. If you put yourself in their shoes unless the car was required for a specific reason, the vehicle is valuable or there are valuables on show, there is no point in putting their freedom at risk. Therefore, if a thief sees valuables in your car they will either try to break into your vehicle, smash a window or maybe even take the car.

It is simple, it is straightforward and certainly not rocket science, do not leave valuables on show in your vehicle. Indeed, why would you want to keep valuables in your vehicle even if they were out of sight?

Ensure Your Vehicle Is Locked Correctly

The vast majority of cars today have push-button locks on the key but this does not stop car owners from forgetting to secure their vehicles.

How many times have you felt a draft in your car while driving only to find the back window was slightly down? How many times do you get out of your vehicle in a rush to go somewhere and sometimes forget to lock it? Even a window which is slightly ajar is an invitation to the modern-day thief who has an array of different ways of unlocking your car.

It may sound simple, and straightforward but there is nothing wrong with checking and double checking your vehicle is locked before leaving the area.

Antitheft Devices

Whether you have an engine immobiliser or some kind of internal alarm which is activated when your vehicle is broken into, promote this as much as possible on your vehicle! Many from the criminal fraternity have confirmed time and time again that any vehicle which looks as though it “may” have an antitheft device is of no interest to car thieves. The fact is that any thief wants to get in, get out and get away as quickly as possible without being noticed. They don’t want flashing lights, honking horns and other visible or audio alarms ringing.

An antitheft device sticker on your window or some other suggestion that your vehicle is alarmed will scare off 99.9% of car thieves. This is a simple but very effective means of protecting your vehicle.

Store Your Keys In A Safe Place

It is okay having the latest antitheft device, engine immobiliser and other devices, but this is no good if a thief can get hold of your car keys.

It may surprise many people but the modern-day thief is very inventive and intuitive. Did you know that many cars up and down the country have been stolen after thieves have entered homes and taken car keys? Let’s be honest, do you leave your car keys at the front door after you have entered? Do you leave them on the kitchen table in full view of everybody? Or are you one of the few who put them away somewhere safe and out of sight?

Police forces around the country have for many years now reported car thefts where thieves have entered houses looking for nothing but car keys. They will find them in door locks, on kitchen tables and often in full view just waiting to be taken. Once a thief has your car keys the world’s best immobiliser and antitheft device is irrelevant.

Park Your Vehicle As Close To Your Home As Possible

While it will obviously depend upon where you live, you should always park your car as close to your house as possible.

Those with a driveway have an obvious added bonus when you bear in mind the car thief just wants to get in, get out and get away. If they have to walk up a driveway, maybe past a front window or you have one of those pressure lights which switches on when somebody walks near, the majority of car thieves will not be interested. Despite the fact some criminals have a reputation for being aggressive and potentially violent, this is not always the case, and the vast majority do not want to be seen.

When parking your car, experts also suggest that you turn the wheel on full lock to make it as difficult as possible for a thief to make a quick getaway. The days of hot wiring a car in seconds have long gone and it is getting more and more difficult for car thieves.

Insuring Your Vehicle

As we all know, car insurance can be relatively expensive, especially in areas where car theft is more common. Unfortunately, while we insure our vehicles for a specific amount at the start of the term we do not always receive this amount if we make a claim. Insurance companies will only pay out on current value which may vary widely from the actual value on your insurance document. Then there is the often long-winded process of claiming on your car insurance and extra travel expenses before payment is received.

It is worth noting that a number of car insurance companies will offer reduced premiums for those who fit antitheft devices, engine immobilisers, park their car in a driveway or add other security measures. There are many simple ways in which you can reduce the chances of your vehicle being stolen and some of these can actually help you in the pocket.