There’s perhaps nothing worse than walking out to your car only to discover it has been stolen. Vehicle thieves are rarely nice to the cars they steal, so you just know it’s being put through the wringer. If you even get it back at all, you’ll likely end up having to fix a ton of damage to get it back into shape. To avoid all that devastation, make vehicle theft prevention a top priority with these following tips.
Keep It Locked Up — Always
It doesn’t matter if you have a pristine 1964 Ford Mustang or an ordinary grocery-getter; Every car is at risk of getting stolen. In most cases, car theft is a crime of opportunity, which is why it is so important to lock up at all times.
Whether you’re driving down the street or parked at home, flip on your door locks to help keep car thieves at bay. When you’re parked, also remember to roll up your windows all the way.
Park in a Well-Lit Area
Thieves work best in the dark of the night, so always aim to park in a well-lit area when you can. When you have to park in a lot after dark, choose a spot right under the light poles. At home, put up a motion-activated floodlight where you normally park.
Install an Ear-Piercing Alarm
An ear-piercing car alarm not only acts as a major deterrent, but also alerts you if anyone is skulking around your vehicle. For the best results, make sure that you can hear the alarm from inside your home when you’re parked outside. Also, consider getting a two-way model that activates the under-hood siren and sends an alert through the key fob.
Upgrade the Alarm Siren
If your car came with a factory alarm system, you may want to upgrade the siren to make it even louder. Make sure that you can hear the alarm from all points in your house and across your property. If not, think about getting an aftermarket siren or upgrading your alarm altogether.
Lock the Steering Wheel
A steering wheel lock adds another layer of protection, making it even more difficult to walk away with your beloved automobile. Get a high-quality lock with multiple hooks that tightly grab onto the steering wheel.
Then, commit to putting it on the wheel each time you leave the car even if just for a few minutes. Most experienced car thieves only need less than 60 seconds to break into a car, start it up, and drive away, after all.
Put in a Fuel Cutoff Switch
You can have a fuel cutoff switch installed in a hidden area to turn off the fuel pump on demand. With the switch in the off position, fuel will not flow into the engine, making it impossible to start it up and drive it away.
Since you have to turn the switch back on for each drive, this option is usually saved for collector cars or models that are stolen most often, like the Acura Integra. Cars with a high sentimental value are often best protected with all the car theft protection measures you can get.
Invest in a Security Camera System
To keep a close eye on the area around your home, invest in a security camera system. The cameras record a minute or two of video upon detecting any motion. Plus, you can use them to view the area on demand and set off a loud alarm to scare away thieves.
Hook Up a GPS Tracker
If all else fails, you can rely on a GPS tracker to let you know where your stolen car is at, so you can alert the authorities. With that information, they can easily go out and recover your vehicle before the thieves can strip its parts or damage it further.
You can either go with a self-monitored system or get a tracker that links up to a monitoring service. Either way, you’ll need to have a professional install it in a secure location to keep the thieves from simply finding it and pulling it off the car.
When you use all these vehicle theft prevention tips, your efforts go a long way in protecting your vehicle. Another way to protect your vehicle is by getting the right type and level of auto insurance coverage with help from our team at Wayfarer Insurance Group. With a call to 1-844-929-4768, we can review all your options, including our popular collector car insurance coverage for your prized possessions. So, feel free to reach out any time to discuss your options with our team.
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