Did you know that there were 810,400 vehicles stolen in 2020, totaling about $7.4 billion in total motor vehicle thefts? Vehicle theft was up more than 11% compared to the previous year, and experts predict this rising trend will continue due to increased drug use, homelessness, and poorer economic conditions arising in many areas. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent your car from becoming the next statistic.

Below are 6 tips to keep your vehicle safe from theft.

1. Make it a habit to always lock your car doors. Unlocked doors will provide an easy access for thieves and it can be costly to lose a stereo or other items from your car which could have been prevented simply by locking your car doors.

2. Always remove your keys from the ignition. Often times, people will leave their car’s engine running in their driveway and assume their car is safe since they are close by, but this pattern can lead to becoming an easy target for a thief. Regardless of how convenient it is to defrost your car during inclimate weather or cool it down on a warm summer day before you enter your car, doing so is actually quite risky.

3. Keep your windows closed when you aren’t in the car. Partially opened windows can provide an opportunity for a thief who can reach inside and unlock the doors.

4.Install a vehicle immobilizer system to prevent thieves from being able to ‘hotwire’ your car. This will automatically disable your vehicle should anyone try to steel it. Vehicle immobilizer systems work with smart keys, kill switches, and wireless ignition authentication – all which will prevent a thief from being able to take off with your car.

5. Install a tracking system, also known as a vehicle recovery system. This type of tracking system uses wireless and/or GPS technology to emit a signal to your local police department or to a monitoring service company. This will help police locate your vehicle instantly should it become stolen.

6. Never leave valuables in your car. Purses, cameras, backpacks, tools, gym bags, medication, shoes, groceries are all common items found in cars that may attract a thief. If you must leave some things inside your car for a while, try to hide everything in the trunk to keep things out of sight.

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