Vehicle Theft Prevention Tips
We are all excited about getting back to some form of normalcy. However, vehicle thefts have been trending upward recently, due to vehicle owners leaving their key fobs in their cars! With so much else going on in our lives, it’s easy to get lax about things like locking your car door. But one thing is for sure—criminals aren’t taking a break. There are some things that you can do when it comes to protecting your vehicle and its contents.
- Make your car a less attractive target.
We all have some bad habits we need to break to keep our vehicles from becoming a beacon for thieves.
- Lock your doors. Whether you are heading into class, grocery shopping, or just running into the gas station for a quick snack, make it a habit to lock your doors every time that you leave your vehicle. At the same time (if you don’t have keyless entry), make it a habit to check that your keys are always on you as well.
- Keep your windows rolled up all the way. Perhaps you can’t imagine someone unlocking your car with just a few inches of space, but they can.
Don’t use your car as storage or leave attractive/expensive items out in full view. We’ve all left something out in the open that would attract a passerby with criminal intent. Students leave laptop bags across the backseat, kids leave devices where they sat, and sometimes we’ve been guilty of leaving purses and wallets out in the open. Locking your doors is just the first step in keeping your car and contents safe. Make sure you tuck any attractive items under the seats, in the glove compartment, or in the trunk to keep your car from becoming an easy target.
- Park smarter.
Think twice before you park your vehicle in a neighborhood or on a side street you aren’t familiar with. And park in well-lit areas. Even if you live or park in a nice neighborhood, know that break-ins can happen anywhere. That said, it is safer to park your car in a garage than out on the driveway or a street.
- Invest in anti-theft technology.
Anti-theft devices can either come from the dealership (in the case of a new car) or be added later.
- Keep current on motor vehicle theft trends—like keyless car theft.
- Turn off the wireless signal (refer to your vehicle’s instruction manual to determine if this is possible and how to do it)
- Store your key fobs in your home away from the edge of the house
- Reprogram your key fobs if they are for a used vehicle
REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND PERSONS TO POLICE IMMEDIATELY!
NON-EMERGENCY 301-279-8000
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This advice was posted by Officer Kim Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland.
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