Losing a car through theft is a horrible experience, and so, for peace of mind, it is essential to have your vehicle parked in a safe place at night. If that is not possible, then the car should be secured at all times.1 The underlying motive is to make things as difficult as possible for thieves, seeing that time is not on their side.
Older cars are easier to steal1
Older cars are attractive to thieves, not only because such vehicles are not as well-protected as newer models, but also due to spare parts of older cars being heavily sought-after.
What if I don’t have a safe parking place at night?1
The most ideal situation is to have safe parking at night, but if that is not possible, see the various ways below on how your car can be secured.
- Always lock car doors1
Always means always – sometimes we are in a hurry and, without locking, we shoot into a café for a quick purchase. After all, we will only be a few minutes. Those few minutes are all that thieves need to steal your precious possessions. When you have pressed the remote on your key, always test whether one of the doors is locked. Thieves in a parking area could jam your signal and prevent locking. If your key lacks a remote locking mechanism, physically check each door and boot before leaving your vehicle.
- Ensure all windows are closed1
If your windows are left open, you may as well leave your doors unlocked! If your vehicle has a sunroof, ensure that it’s closed too.
- Where should you park your car?1
If your car is parked in a public place, ask yourself if the place is easily accessible or if its perimeter is fenced? Are there many pedestrians or car traffic going past the parking area? Thieves don’t like to be seen, so they prefer working in the dark and in cluttered places. An open, well lit-up car park could deter potential thieves. Ideally, aim for a car park that is boomed off, where you need a ticket to exit.
- What about the boot?1
An accessible boot doesn’t necessarily mean that thieves are restricted only to that area. They may be able to gain entry to the rest of the car from the boot via the back seat.
- Don’t leave any items on a seat1
Any valuable belongings lying on the seats are calling thieves to come inside and take them. Always place any valuable items out of sight in the boot and not in the glove compartment. Leaving an item on the seats also means that a window will get smashed or a door will be damaged.
- What about installing anti-theft mechanisms?1
Modern cars are already equipped with first-class alarm systems and fuel starvation mechanisms that prevent them from travelling far before they stop. But with older cars, these systems need to be installed. Also, a steel locking bar can be placed over the steering wheel or around the gear lever. Thieves prefer to go to the car next door that doesn’t have all those anti-theft devices. Some car insurers may insist that such installations are installed, especially if the car is old or highly sought after.
Ideally, it is best to purchase a modern car that has a computer chip in its key that cannot be duplicated which in turn may help reduce your car insurance premiums.
Is your current car insurance policy too expensive? Are you looking to get affordable car insurance that is also dependable anytime soon? Why not find out more about PMD’s attainable car insurance that includes unique features like premiums that don’t increase*? T’s and C’s apply.
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
Source:
1https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-keep-your-car-safe-when-it-s-parked-by-brent-minderler
