Car thefts have become quite common. Even though car theft rates vary from country to country, it would be wise to take precautionary measures as a car owner. Some thieves are professionals, and they know what they need to do to execute their plan.
It seems like there’s nothing you can do if someone has decided to steal your vehicle. Car alarms, security systems, all those things can be breached.
In this article, we’re going to share five tips on protecting your car from being stolen, so let’s go into more detail.
1. Install a GPS Tracker in Your Car
Just like we said, sometimes there’s no way of stopping the inevitable. In Singapore, one car gets stolen every four days while in neighboring Malaysia, 150 cars are stolen every day. Yearly, car theft crime in Malaysia grows at a rate of 6%.
This information tells you that no matter how much you take care of your car, it may get stolen. The solution to this problem is to find a way to get it back as soon as possible.
To do this, you can install a GPS tracker. Make sure it’s placed somewhere so that thieves won’t be able to find it. Call the police immediately and track down your car before criminals figure out where the GPS is.
2. Don’t Leave Anything Valuable in Your Car
Some criminals are not interested in stealing your car—they are interested in what’s inside. If they see something valuable, they’ll break the car window or pick a lock.
Your car won’t suffer that big of damage, but you’ll have to pay for a new car window, and your belongings will be gone. The most common crimes in Malaysia are pickpocketing, purse snatching, and smash-and-grab car thefts.
Make sure that nothing’s left inside. Some people like to cover their backpack with a jacket, thinking that it won’t be noticeable. However, that’s even more appealing to thieves. We can’t stress this enough—don’t leave anything in your car that can be stolen.
3. Park in a Well-Lit Parking Lot
According to statistics, there were 228.9 cases of car thefts per 100,000 citizens in the US in 2018. A number of these cases happened in parking lots. As a car owner, you must do everything you can to make sure that your car is parked in a well-lit spot at night.
Thieves are more likely to steal a car parked in unattended or dark areas because the chances are that no one will witness a crime being committed. The attempt to steal a car is more than obvious to witnesses, which is why thieves carefully choose their targets.
4. Invest in Cameras
If you’re parking a car in your garage or a shared parking lot, it’s smart to invest in cameras. Today’s technology is so advanced that apps can connect wireless cameras to smartphones and record in real time.
Knowing that there’s a camera recording every move, any thief will think twice before deciding to make a move.
5. Double-Check Where Your Car Keys Are
It may be strange to some people, but according to car theft statistics, 229,339 cars were stolen in the US between 2016 and 2018 because drivers left car keys inside their vehicles.
This data tells you why you need to make sure that your car keys are safe in your pocket or purse. It may seem silly, but as you can see, a lot of people didn’t pay attention to it, which cost them their cars.
Conclusion
Following the five tips mentioned above will surely help you in these troubled times when cars are being stolen daily. Every car owner has to do everything in their power to prevent theft, so even unusual and unorthodox measures like these may come in handy.
