How to Reduce Car and Tire Theft
Stealing cars and tires are money makers for thieves. Making your car less attractive to thieves with anti-theft technology can help reduce theft and their ill-gotten gains.
Follow these 7 tips to help reduce car and tire theft:
- Use anti-theft devices
An anti-theft device helps prevent thieves from stealing your car or can help locate your car and get it back if it has been stolen.
Anti-theft devices are categorized as: passive, active, and tracking devices.
Passive systems include:
- An alarm system that activates automatically when you turn the ignition off or shut your car door.
- Automatic disabling devices such as a computer chip in the ignition if an unrecognized key is used.
Active anti-theft systems include:
- They need to be set up by you and they help ensure that your car stays put.
- They can include steering wheel locks, door locks, security tire clamps, brake locks, and engine kill switches.
Tracking devices include:
- GPS trackers can tell you your car’s exact location on a digital map, and in some cases even come with a real-time anti-theft alarm.
- A vehicle recovery system uses transmitters on your car and help the police have an easier time of locating your stolen car.
If you have a new car, it will likely come with some built-in anti-theft devices.
Can anti-theft devices lower your car insurance?
Ask your Western Financial Group car insurance expert if your anti-theft devices qualify you for a discount. You should have proof or purchase and installation.
Did you know that a car is stolen about every 6 minutes in Canada?
- Use wheel lock keys to prevent tire theft
Wheel lock keys are special sockets that match the unique pattern on your wheel lock. Without your wheel lock key, the tire, rim, and wheel can’t be easily removed, lowering the chances of your car being stolen.
It’s important to note that wheel locks only protect against the theft of tires, wheels, and rims. They do not protect against car theft.
- Turn your wheels
Turning your wheels, especially when you are parked near a curb, makes it more difficult for a thief to steal your car tires.
Turning your wheels also makes it harder to steal your car because the fender often gets in the way of removing the lug nuts. If a thief tries to steal your car, he’ll run into the problem of a locked steering wheel.
- Don’t store valuables in your car
Valuables in your car are an easy target for thieves. They can break a window and steal your valuables when they’re left on the seat or your dashboard.
It’s also a good idea to keep your car clean to reduce the chances of a break-in because if a thief sees a clean car, he might be less likely to believe that you have valuables hidden in your car.
- Always be aware
Be aware of your surroundings, even in familiar neighborhoods. Does something look out of place or not seem right? If so, contact the police to let them know.
Car thieves can be lurking anywhere.
- Practice smart parking
Choose your parking spot carefully. You’ll make a thief’s job easier in a secluded or dark area.
Look for well-lit parking areas in the evening. Park under streetlights to protect your car from theft. Avoid secluded alleys or the back corners of parking garages in the daytime.
If you’re in a parking lot, look for security cameras and try to park within the camera’s line of sight to help prevent your car from being stolen.
- Lock your doors
When you get out of your car, always check that you’ve closed your car doors and windows and that you have locked your vehicle. It’s simple advice to help prevent car theft, but you can forget to d this if you are distracted or in a rush.
Don’t leave your car running with doors unlocked, even if it’s only for a few minutes. It’s an invitation for car thieves.
Prevention can help stop your car from being stolen.
