Tips For Preventing Car Break-Ins
As a car owner, one of the things you hope never happens to your car is a break-in. Nobody wants to have to worry about whether or not their belongings will be safe and sound when they return to their car after leaving it parked somewhere for a while. Unfortunately, car break-ins are all too common. However, there are steps you can take to prevent or at least lessen your chances of dealing with a break-in.
While it’s impossible to guarantee that your car will never be broken into, following these tips will go a long way in protecting both your vehicle and the precious belongings you store in it.
Remove or Hide Valuables
The first and most obvious step to reduce your chances of having your car broken into is to remove valuable items from your car. Many car break-ins are a crime of opportunity – they see something in an easy-to-reach spot in someone’s car. Some examples of valuable items you’ll want to remove or hide include phones, cash, handbags, backpacks, and other electronic devices. If you absolutely must leave one of these types of items in your vehicle, try to hide them in the glove box, under a seat, in the trunk, or some other spot that is out of sight.
Prep Your Vehicle
As you’re leaving your vehicle, make sure to take the proper steps to prepare it for a potential break-in. Of course, you’ll want to make sure all the windows are rolled up and all the doors are locked. Next, if your vehicle comes with a built-in alarm system, make sure to activate it if necessary before you leave it parked somewhere. If your car doesn’t come with an alarm system built-in, look into aftermarket options to install in your car.
Stay Together
Another deterrent for break-ins is parking your car in a safe place. If you can, try to park your car near other cars in a well-populated parking lot. Ideally, you should also park somewhere that is well lit with street lights or lamp posts. The average thief looking to break into cars doesn’t want to get caught by onlookers, so they typically target cars that are far away from other people or in dimly lit areas.
Keep an Eye Out
When choosing an area to park, you should look out for any suspicious behavior. For example, if there seems to be someone watching what other people are doing as they walk to and from their cars, you may want to steer clear of that parking lot. Some thieves will wait and see if a car owner will come back to their car to drop off shopping bags before leaving their car again to go back into the store. If you see anyone acting suspicious, trust your instincts and park elsewhere.
In summary, the best way to avoid a car break-in is to:
- Remove or hide your valuable items from your car
- Lock all doors, windows, and activate the car alarm system
- Park in a well lit, populated parking lot
- Look out for suspicious behavior
Vehicle safety is something that every car owner cares about. Even if it might be impossible to prevent break-ins from ever occurring, you’ll be in a much better spot if you follow these tips. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a careless or reckless driver and has been injured, call 1-800-411-PAIN and get the help you need! We will refer you to the attorneys that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and the medical attention you need. If you have been hurt in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN, and we will guide you in finding you the best medical and legal professionals.