Having your vehicle broken into can be a frustrating experience. Finding your car windows smashed and your personal belongings missing is enough to ruin anyone's day. You will have to file a police report and work with your insurance adjuster to file a claim, all things that take time and effort on your part. It could be an unlucky coincidence that the thief targeted your car in particular, but it is more likely that something about your car caught the persons interest. Here are five things that you can do to help keep your vehicle from standing out to the next would be thief that comes around.
1. Hide Valuables
Prevention begins even before you leave your car. Check your car for items that may be worth stealing. These could include:
- Purses/backpacks
- Shopping bags
- Laptops
- Cameras
- Cellphones
- Cash
- Electronic Devices (MP3 player, wireless headphones, etc.)
It may seem harmless to leave your stuff in plain sight, but a thief notices these things immediately and doesn't hesitate to break a window to steal the items. If there’s a reward, they’ll take the risk.
It’s preferable to take your belongings with you, but if that’s not possible, hide them. Put them in the trunk if necessary, so they are out of sight.
2. Close the Windows
Roll up the windows in your car after you’ve verified that all your belongings are hidden. Many times people are in a hurry and forget to check that the windows are closed. It only takes a small opening for a thief to get the signal that it’s fine to break into your car.
Even if it’s summer and the temperatures are high, always close the windows. Turn the AC on when you get back in the car and roll the windows down when you start driving to let the heat out.
3. Park in a Well-Lit Area
Most car break-ins happen because the vehicle is parked in a dark area with little to no foot traffic. A thief doesn’t want attention and is less likely to break into a car that's parked in well-lit areas with lots of people. Choose a parking spot with streetlights or near a lamppost, bonus if there are surveillance cameras present too.
Even if it costs more to leave your car in an attended parking lot, it might be worth doing so to keep your belongings safe.
4. Lock Your Doors
Believe it or not, some people will actually leave their car doors unlocked overnight believing that to be preferable to a busted out their window should a thief ever target their vehicle.
Simply locking your doors is a great deterrent for most would-be thieves.
5. Install an Anti-Theft Alarm
Does your vehicle come with a security system? If so, advertise it with stickers in your windows. This alerts would-be burglars and helps prevent break-ins. No thief wants to attract attention, and a car alarm will do just that.
You can always install an alarm on an older model vehicle that doesn’t have one. Even if you can’t afford one, buy a sticker to make it seem that you have a security system in place. This might be enough to keep a thief from breaking into your car.
No safety measure is enough to protect your vehicle 100% of the time. However, these basic tips help discourage thieves and prevent your car from being broken into.
Having your insurance policy up-to-date is also important to protect your assets. Infinity Insurance can help you find a plan that suits your budget and needs. Call one of our friendly agents at 1-800-INFINITY or visit our website to receive a quote within minutes.