Protect Your Car. 5 Simple Steps to Stop Theft or Vandalism -

Protect Your Car in The Summer.

As the mercury in the thermometer climbs it seems like reports of petty crimes involving vehicles climb with it, making it harder to protect your car. It’s also the time of year when the summer rush causes us to forget the most basic common sense approach to keeping our car and items inside safe. But all it takes is a few minutes to stop and think about these 5 ways to keep your car safe and not start your summer off with a police report:

1. Lock the doors.

Seems obvious, but the first way to protect your car is to lock all the doors. Also make sure your sun roof, moon roof, and windows are rolled up and closed. Don’t make it easy to reach into an unlocked car and take something left inside. Even if you run into a store for two seconds, leaving the car running or unlocked is asking for trouble. Although keyless entry makes your car a little more secure, in the event you forget all of this lock-it-up advice, invest in a GPS tracker. In the worst case scenario, you can track your car in real time until the police get there.

2. Keep valuables out of sight.

Let’s be honest, your purse is not safe tucked under the seat. It’s safe in the locked trunk. If you are leaving the car, out of site is out of mind. A lot of crimes are simply crimes of opportunity, not premeditated.

3. Park in well-lit areas to protect your car and YOU.

Even if you have to walk a little farther, you should park where your car is safe. Petty thieves are looking for an easy target and a car sitting in a well lit area is not it. Good lighting also makes it easier for criminal activity to be recorded by nearby security cameras. You may also want to consider buying a hand held stun gun key chain with a flashlight, in case anyone is targeting you.

4. Don’t advertise the nice stuff you keep in the car.

Don’t give your neighbors a chance to talk about your new stereo system by playing it loudly. You never know who might be listening. The same goes for advertising the kind of phone you have by placing its logo on your back window. You might as well say, “yep, I have an expensive phone, want to take a look?”

5. Protect your car with a hidden camera.

This way even if someone does break in you will have a video record of it. Hidden cameras like the Cell Phone Holder Camera are less likely to be stolen. It looks like a typical, cheap, dash-mounted plastic phone holder but it will capture the the person who decides to root around in your unlocked car. Another possibility is the Car Charger Hidden Camera. It’s not only great for catching criminals who stop by your driveway at night it’s also an easy way to find out if your mechanic really did swipe the change out of your console.

For additional ways to protect your car, follow these tips.

If possible, park your vehicle in a locked and secure garage.
Prevent thieves from accessing the onboard diagnostic port by using a device that blocks it.
Use a steering wheel locking device to deter theft.
To block cell signals, keep the vehicle key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag or pouch when not in use.
Always lock all doors and windows of the vehicle when entering and exiting it.
Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running, even for a short time. Always turn off the ignition and take the keys with you.
Avoid hiding spare keys in the car or outside the residence.
Remove personal identification from the vehicle.
Consider installing anti-theft devices such as ignition or fuel kill switches, steering wheel, gearshift, and hood locks, steering column collar, and electric alarm.

Protect Your Car. 5 Simple Steps to Stop Theft or Vandalism