How to Avoid Car Theft

In the US, approximately 800,000 cars are stolen every year. That's almost one car every 39 seconds!

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 40% of auto thefts are due to mistakes made by drivers. In 2020, car thieves stole 85,000 more vehicles than in the previous year, as reported by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). It is also expected that the number of stolen cars will rise as the years go by.

Automobiles are a big investment. And with these troubling statistics, it's important to take the necessary steps to protect your vehicle and prevent auto theft. This can help save you money in the long run and keep you safe on the road.

In this guide, we'll give you some advice that will help you avoid car theft.

Always roll up the windows and lock the car

Crystal Clack from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Florida said, "The overwhelming majority of vehicle thefts and burglaries are a result of unlocked vehicle doors."

Be sure your car's windows are closed, including the sunroof or, on pickups, the rear cab window, even while driving. Double-check that the key is in your pocket or bag when you walk away from the vehicle.

Park in well-lit areas

The first thing to do is avoid parking in poorly lit areas or places passers-by do not immediately see. Thieves prefer to work in the dark, so when you park your car at night, be especially cautious about where you leave it. In general, try and park in a well-lit area with plenty of people around (a corner near a busy street or a shopping mall would be ideal).

If possible, try and park near an entrance to your home so that if someone tries breaking into your vehicle, they will be easily seen by neighbors or passing cars or buses. Other suggestions include leaving some lights on the inside of the house while away from home. This makes it more difficult for potential thieves because it will appear as if someone is home even though you might not actually be!

Don't hide a spare key in the car

NHTSA says it's a good idea to take your keys with you when leaving your car. Additionally, the NICB reports that 229,339 vehicles in the US were stolen between 2016 and 2018 because drivers left a key or fob in the vehicle.

It's also not a great practice to store a key in a lockbox mounted under the vehicle, either. People who steal cars know where to look for those things, too!

Get an alarm for your car

When activated, an audible alarm emits a loud noise to deter potential thieves. The noise from car alarms may give them second thoughts about breaking in, according to the NHTSA.

If you don't have an alarm installed when you buy your car (or if yours has stopped working), consider adding an audible alarm system as soon as possible. The average price of an alarm system is about $300 to $700, plus $200 to $600 for professional installation, depending on the features and the system.

If you have a garage, use it

Parking in a garage is safer than parking on the street. For one thing, the garage door keeps people from seeing what's happening inside. Additionally, it makes your car less visible to thieves who might be casing your neighborhood.

You can't always be watching your car, so it's important to make sure that it's safe even when you're not there. Protect your home from intruders by installing home security features. Home security features can help keep your car and house safe and secure, which means you'll be able to rest easy knowing that all of your valuables are protected.

Don't leave your car running unattended

An idling vehicle is an open invitation to thieves. Thieves know that most people will step out of their cars for just a few minutes, so they'll wait and pounce when you return.

Always lock your doors when driving or parked (even if there are other people in the car), and don't leave your valuables unattended or in sight. Never leave items such as purses and briefcases visible from outside the vehicle. These items may attract the attention of passers-by who might be looking for easy targets for theft or vandalism.

Just a word of caution, never leave a vehicle running in a closed garage with doors shut and windows up! Carbon monoxide can build up quickly inside closed garages leading to death by poisoning within minutes. Don't take chances!

Add a GPS tracking device

Installing a GPS tracking device can prevent your car from being stolen. A GPS tracking device works by sending out signals picked up by satellites in space so that the car's location can be tracked at all times. The information is sent back to a server and stored there.

This is useful because if the car is stolen and then abandoned somewhere, police officers can use it to find out where the thief took the vehicle and then track them down. This may help the police recover your car faster.

You could install one on your car if it didn't come with it. Some recent car models even provide tracking through subscription-based services.

Install a kill switch

A kill switch is an anti-theft device that may be wired to your ignition, fuel line, or battery. When activated, the switch prevents the vehicle from starting. A person could get hold of your car keys but would not be able to go anywhere unless they found and flipped the kill switch first!

Use a steering wheel, brake, or tire lock

The NHTSA recommends using visible devices, such as a steering wheel lock, to deter car theft. Wheel locks are a good investment if you want to keep your tires and wheels from being stolen. Most thieves don't walk around with the special key needed to remove them, and it's not easy to pry them off.

Another type of theft deterrent is a wheel lock clamp boot. It takes a thief more than three minutes to saw through the lock, then hammer it off. A professional thief won't have time for these steps and may attract attention by the noise when dislodging the clamp boot.

Etch VIN onto windows

You can also prevent car theft by etching your VIN onto all windows, making it harder for thieves to sell each part of your car. Etching is a process that involves sandblasting or laser engraving a unique number into the glass. Each etched code is unique, and with this, stolen vehicles can be traced by law enforcement.

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you to understand better what you can do to protect yourself against car theft. It can be difficult to remember every single thing we have listed here, but the most important thing is to always stay alert! If something doesn't feel right, then it probably isn't. Pay attention to your instincts, and don't let anyone get too close or start acting suspiciously around your vehicle.

If your vehicle got damaged due to any stealing attempts, we at Criswell Acura are here for you! You can schedule service with us so we can repair any problems with your vehicle. You can also contact us at 443-482-3200 whenever you need help with repairs and maintenance.