How to Prevent Car Theft

• Lock your car. This is absolutely vital to preventing car theft. Leaving your car unlocked is like saying, “Hey, wanna steal my vehicle?”
• Park your car in a safe place. This means:
1. in a well-lit and public location
2. in a garage or in a gated area, or
3. in your drive way if none of the above are applicable. Car thefts typically target cars that are not in busy places so they can spend less time worrying and more time breaking into your car. Make ‘em think twice before stealing from your car!

• Keep windows completely closed. Besides preventing rain for getting in, you’ll be warding off the perils of crafty hands and slender clothes hangers.

• Utilize an alerting device. Newer cars usually have this feature built-in and operating when the car is locked, but you can always dupe criminals by buying a device that simply blinks. If thieves are being artful, why not fight fire with fire?

• Buy smart keys, or an entirely new car that uses smart keys. Not only are older cars more desirable for car thieves (since the parts have increased value due to age), but they are also much easier to break into, due to weaker security. By buying smart keys, which are keys that start the car without you actually inside it, or by buying a new vehicle that has this attribute, you’re fortifying your protection efforts.
• Install a GPS or tracking device. This is more for a post-car theft incident. With these components, you’ll be able to locate your car and assist the police in finding it.
• Get car theft insurance. This is a precautionary measure. If you’re unable to locate the car, or your valuables have been stolen, the theft insurance couldn’t be more fitting. Check out Insurance.com for more info on how to apply for car insurance and which to get.
• Buy a steering wheel lock. If car thieves are greeted with a lock in your steering wheel, they’ll be utterly disenchanted and will be discouraged to perform anything “illegal” to your car. Grainger has a wide selection of locks, suitable for all drivers.

Never, ever leave valuable in plain sight. Keep it plain and clean like so.

What NOT to do:

• Leave your car unattended. Yet another invitation to car robbers. You’re simply asking them to take your car off your hands.
• Leave your engine running. We understand the ease (and temptation) of stepping out of your car for a quick minute to grab that item you happened to forget, but trust us — it is not worth leaving your car on. It then becomes a  “to-go” car for robbers.
• Leave valuables, expensive, or desirable items open to the public eye. This is perhaps the most common mistake people make. People either forget about these items, or they overlook the appeal such valuables have for robbers. Most have the mindset that, “It won’t happen to me.” If you want to keep your possessions, you should shift into the “better safe, then sorry” frame of mind.

Interested in the top three stolen vehicles in the nation? Click here.