The Best Way To Prevent Your Car From Being Stolen
Thieves are becoming more sophisticated by using sophisticated keys for stealing cars and changing the vehicle’s identification numbers to avoid detection, claims the III. So, how can you prevent being a victim of car theft? Ensure you are vigilant in securing your vehicle and taking precautions to keep your car secure. There are many easy ways to prevent this, such as ghost immobiliser 2 and much more. Here are some tips to safeguard your car from theft:
1. Lock Your Doors
Locking your doors can be the first thing you do to stop thieves. It’s a good idea to establish the habit of regularly checking the car’s doors.
2. Get Your Keys Removed From the Vehicle
Do not put key fobs in the ignition, advises the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). If you leave your keys in the car, thieves could smash the window and then drive off. Firestone warns against running your vehicle even if you visit a shop for a quick run. Running vehicles can be a prime target for thieves, particularly when it’s not secured or locked.
3. Do Not Keep the Spare Key Close to Your Vehicle
It is recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that you take your keys with you whenever you leave your vehicle. Many people keep an extra key in their car or inside the glove compartment in case they become locked out, but thieves know where to find a spare key. If you find yourself stuck in the vehicle as an inconvenience, consider the risk of having your vehicle taken.
4. Close the Windows
Make sure your windows are completely closed—the NICB. The thief could easily get into your vehicle through an open window — taking anything, they can get their hands on or opening the door to gain access to your car and all that is inside it.
5. Park in Well-Lit Areas
Do not park in places that aren’t well-illuminated or in areas that are not easily seen by people passing by. Firestone Complete Auto Care recommends parking at night and in an area that is well-trafficked to ensure that thieves are discouraged if they are aware that they are easily visible.
6. Install an Audible Alarm System and an Vehicle Anti-Theft Device
The NHTSA suggests installing an alarm system that emits audible signals in the event your vehicle does not have one or has a visible vehicle anti-theft device. An audible alarm is made to make a loud sound, usually the car’s horn, in case anyone attempts to enter the vehicle when the alarm is activated. The attention drawn by the sound could scare away a potential criminal, per the NHTSA. There’s a wide selection of alarms for cars available, according to Angi. However, bear your eye on the fact that you might require a technician or an alarm technician to install it, in particular when the installation involves using the wiring system.
The use of visible devices, like an ignition lock for the steering wheel window etching or an alarm system’s flashing light, might also be enough to discourage thieves from taking your car, per the NHTSA. Firestone says they may avoid your car altogether if they’re not sure they’ll escape with the car without a trace or worry they might be taken into custody.
7. Install an Immobilizer for Your Vehicle
The thieves can steal your ignition by “hot wiring” your vehicle; however, you can stop this from happening by installing the immobilizer feature of your vehicle as recommended by the NHTSA. Based on the NICB, Immobilizer systems could contain smart keys or kill switches and remotes that wirelessly authenticate your ignition. They’ll disable the vehicle to ensure thieves can’t make out with it.
8. Install a System for Tracking
You might want to think about installing a tracking system which could also be referred to as an auto-recovery system. (As with other alarms, you might require the assistance of a professional to install the system.) If your vehicle is taken away, this tracker uses wireless and GPS technology to send an alert to the police, or a monitoring service that tracks the exact location of your vehicle, claims the NICB. This could help police find your car faster.
9. Do Not Leave Valuables in Your Vehicle
One method to entice thieves is to place the purse, phone, Ghost Immobiliser 2or any other high-value object in a prominent location in your vehicle. It is best to leave any valuable item in your home, but should you have to carry some important items in your car, keep them away from view. Firestone also suggests putting valuables in your trunk before you arrive at where you’ll need to go because thieves scour parking spaces in search of those who are moving things into their trunks. After you’ve left your vehicle and are gone, thieves will break into your trunk to steal whatever you put away.