Car crime is a growing problem in many parts of the world. Some criminals steal the cars themselves. Others are opportunist and will steal the contents of cars if they think they are valuable.
Having been the victim of car crime myself, I can sympathise with others that have gone through the same experience. But one thing that I took away from my experience, is how best to prevent the same thing happening again in the future.
Image credit: comedy_nose
Are you worried about being a victim of car crime? If so, this blog post will give you some practical ideas to help prevent those bad things from happening to you.
Think about where you park
It can be tempting to leave your car parked in places that offer the most convenience to you. But the truth is, there are just some places in the world where you should never park!
Here are some handy tips to help you be more savvy with your parking:
Park in a well-lit area. Car thieves are less likely to break into your car if they know members of the public can spot them;
Don’t leave your valuables on display. What if a thief sees that you have left your purse, mobile phone or sat nav device on display? It can take them just 5 seconds to break a window and grab whatever they feel is valuable;
Park near security cameras. Should the worst happen, it’s likely one or more security cameras will have filmed the perpetrators;
Close your windows and lock your doors. The sad truth is that there are no “safe” neighbourhoods anymore. You must lock your car up, even if it’s parked a few feet away from your home;
Activate your car alarm. Audible deterrents are great for keeping thieves away from your pride and joy.
Improve your car’s security
Simon from motorlinedirect.co.uk says all modern cars have alarms and immobilisers fitted as standard. But some car security systems are mediocre and do little to prevent break-ins and thefts.
Your best bet is to upgrade the security of your car by having an aftermarket alarm system installed. Companies such as Clifford Alarms and Toad offer alarm systems that work better than the OEM ones fitted by car makers.
Use visual deterrents
One of the best forms of defence is to make it clear to thieves that they shouldn’t even bother trying.
Visual deterrents such as steering wheel locks and alarm LEDs make car break-ins risky for thieves. They would rather break into a car that they know is an easy target.
Consider security etching
Do you drive an expensive or rare car? If so, there’s a high chance your car might get stolen to order by criminal gangs.
You should consider having your windows and engine parts security etched. It will be harder for criminals to sell “etched” cars on the black market as the police can trace their source with ease.
I hope you have found this article useful. Let me know what you think by posting up a comment.