Having your car stolen can be an annoying and expensive inconvenience. What kind of car you have and what area you live in are factors that affect the likelihood of your car being stolen. If you have a car with minimal safety features in an area with a high car theft rate, you want to take extra precautions. Read on for 5 ways to prevent your car from being stolen.
Don’t Store Valuables in Your Car
One of the easiest ways to motivate someone walking by to break into your car is by having valuable items laying out. Make sure to take valuables out of your car with you whenever possible. If you are someone who needs to store valuables in your car, you may want to invest in a car safe. Having a reliable car safe, such as a Lock’er Down safe will allow your valuables to be both secured and hidden. Certain safes are specifically designed to fit well and be hidden in your center console. For example, if you have a Toyota Tundra you can get a Tundra Console Safe to fit into your car and be hidden from anyone looking in.
Lock Up
Keeping your car locked up at all times should be the first line of defense against potential thieves. An unlocked car can be an easy target for people walking by and checking on door handles. Even if they are not able to start your car, they could have access to valuables or personal documents that you have left in your car or trunk. You always want to make sure that your car keys are always in a safe place that only you have access to.
Get a Car with A Good Security System
If you are planning on getting a new car soon, make sure that you look at the type of security system it has. When car shopping be sure to mention to the car salesperson that the level of security the car has is something important to you. For example, a car that has a push-to-start ignition system is likely to be harder to steal than a normal ignition system. Push-to-start cars need the keys in the vehicle to start so the vehicle will be very difficult to steal unless they have accessed your keys. Even with a good security system, avoid parking in areas with high crime rates as much as you can, especially at night.
Add a Tracking Device
You may want to consider adding a tracking device to your car so you can find it after it’s stolen. Although this might sound like an expensive investment, you can find relatively cheap ones that are usually put on keychains or wallets. These batteries can last for years so you won’t have to worry about replacing them too often. These are small and can be hidden from a potential thief under a seat or in the trunk of your car.
Steering Wheel Lock
If you are especially worried about someone stealing your car, you might want to get a steering wheel lock. Steering wheel locks are easily put on to make sure no one can move the wheel. They are also easily taken off and stored in the vehicle for when you drive it. They also discourage anyone from attempting to break into the car since thieves know it will be nearly impossible for them to get through.
A stolen car is such a headache that you want to do everything in your power to prevent it from happening to you. A car with sentimental value is one that you especially don’t want stolen from you. By doing the above things hopefully you can hold onto your car until you are ready to trade it in for something else.
