subject: Preventing Car Theft [print this page] Preventing Car Theft Preventing Car Theft
When you consider major life purchases cars should definitely be listed in the top five. The amount of money a person spends on vehicles in a lifetime is staggering. Ironically, given the huge amount of investment people make when buying cars, they do not always take the necessary precautions when it comes to protecting their vehicles. When preventing theft, it's important that you keep in mind not only the value of your car, but that you also consider the things that are inside your car.First and foremost, parking your vehicle in a safe location is the number one way to prevent car theft. Your should never leave your car somewhere that makes you uncomfortable or somewhere that it will be especially vulnerable to criminal activity. While there really is no way to insure the safety of your car without a shadow of a doubt, common sense often comes in handy when deciding where to park. Instead of choosing the back of a dark alley, leave your car in a well-lit and more public location. If parking in a public lot, try and find one that has 24 hour surveillance or one that has an on-duty security guard. If this isn't available, try to find the most secure and easy to reach parking space possible.Just as important as parking your car in a secure location is not ever becoming too comfortable with where you leave it. When you find a safe place to park, don't become lax about securing your belongings and keeping an eye on your vehicle. Parking in the same place every day may make you a bit numb to the imposing threat, so be sure to keep in mind the fact that car theft is a very real possibility, no matter where you leave your car.When you go inside after parking your car take all of your valuables with you. Never ever ever leave mp3 players, phone chargers, or purses in your vehicle when you go inside. These will only attract criminals and give them a reason to break into your car. If you can't take these things inside with you, for whatever reason, make sure that they are hidden away and are not at all visible from the outside. In doing this you will still run the risk of losing your valuable belongings, but at least you won't be broadcasting their location to thieves.While parking your car in a well-lit area and removing your valuables could deter theft, it's important that you have a system in place to try and stop criminal activity once it has begun. Many attempted robberies are cut short by car alarms and, while often they may seem only a noisy nuisance, they may be just the thing to keep your car from being ransacked. Car alarms come in many different varieties and picking the perfect one is up to you, your preferences, and what your security needs are.Leaving the safety of your car up to chance is risky. When you invest thousands of dollars in a car, why not go the extra mile to keep it protected against criminals? Common sense can go a long way, but when it comes down to it robbers are going to break into any car they think will be an easy target. By being fully aware of how your car appears to criminals it will be easier to protect your investment against robbery.
