How To Prevent Vehicle Theft

16 March 2016 by Elijah Steward

When you choose car insurance (from a provider such as Family Insurance Centers), you might look for a policy that has theft and vandalism coverage. However, even if you have protection from thefts, it is also important to do everything you can to avoid theft in the first place. 

Install an Anti-Theft System

You can start by having a high-quality anti-theft decide installed in your vehicle. This not only helps to prevent your car from theft, but it can help to lower your car insurance rate as well. There are many different types of anti-theft systems available. The first is a basic car alarm, which causes a loud siren to go off if someone attempts to open one of the car doors, the hood, or the trunk. There are also systems that will cut off the engine is someone attempts to start it or even more advanced systems that automatically alert police once the alarm goes off. It is also a good idea to have a GPS device installed on the vehicle, so even if it is stolen, the police can track it down and hopefully retrieve it from the thieves.

Don't Leave Anything in the Car

Some thieves will not just steal any car, but look at the items that are inside. Certain visible items either cause them to break in just to steal them and walk away, or to steal the entire car until they are at a safe location where they can retrieve the items. Make sure you leave nothing visible in the vehicle, such as cash, large amounts of change, a purse or wallet, or a briefcase. Don't leave your cell phone, computer, or other electronic devices in the vehicle either. Having clothing or shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, and other personal effects can also give a thief a good reason to choose your car over another.

Keep the VIN Visible

Many vehicles are stolen in order to sell it for parts, but this is difficult to do if you have the vehicle identification number (VIN) etched in multiple places. Start by etching this number on the glass, including on multiple windows. Also, etch it on some different parts under the hood, and exterior and interior car parts. This often discourages chop shops from stealing the car.

Always Park in a Well-Lit Area

Another thing that can deter car thieves is parking in an area that is always well-lit and visible from all directions. Parking in a dark and shaded spot where there aren't businesses or street lights in the vicinity gives the thief a good reason to steal your car. If you can't park in your own garage or in your driveway, at least park somewhere that gets a lot of lights and foot traffic. 

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