Avoid Car Theft

I found an article on AOL autos that talks about how to prevent car theft. Considering holidays are the busiest time of year for car thieves, I thought I would repost some of the key points to help you keep your vehicle safe. The article is from 2009 but I feel that it still applies.
 John Max, author of How to Screw Up a Car Thief's Day, states, "It takes less time for a professional thief to break into your car, start it up and drive away as it does for you to walk into a 7-11, plunk down three bucks for a bagel and coffee and emerge to watch your ride recede into the distance."

Park in Plain Site
Placing your car is plain site is a deterrent to most thieves, who are looking to not raise suspicion. Park your car in a well-lit, populated area and if there are cameras that is all the better.

Take your Keys
The worst thing you could do is leave your keys in the car. That is an open invitation for any thief (or friend wanting to play a practical joke). "Car theft is often a crime of opportunity, so shut yours off and pocket your keys even if you're only ducking into a convenience store."

Don't Hide your Keys Within or Outside the Vehicle
This is pretty self-explanatory. Trust me you are not clever enough to hide your keys in a place a thief won't find.

Make your Car Harder to Steal

• Apply the emergency break
• Turn the wheels hard to the left or right and place the car in park or gear. 
• Consider using a vehicle recovery device
• Disable your battery during long term parking

I hope you take these into consideration in the future but keep in mind these are all just tips. If someone is intent on stealing your car there is a good chance they will. 

                                                                                                                          

About the Author: 

Hi Everyone, I'm Lisa Rogers and I am Director of Internet Marketing for the Shaker Automotive Group, which includes Wellesley Mazda, Framingham Nissan, Cape Cod Mazda, Shaker Family Ford Lincoln Mercury and Shaker's Kia. Let me know what you think about the Blog posts and if there is anything you want to see or need more information just contact me. You can also friend me on facebook.