1. Lock your car. Do not leave your car unlocked. Sound like a no brainer? Well, you’d be surprised how many cars are left unlocked. Car thieves are always on the lookout for keys left either in the ignition or under a seat. They know all the tricks in the book – they probably wrote the book! Nothing attracts a thief to your car more than seeing the cars in the ignition.
2. Hide your ID number. Be careful who sees the ID numbers printed on ignition keys because a clever thief can simply call the 800 number printed on the key, tell the company that that they’ve lost their keys and then have the keys duplicated and sent to them. They will have the keys sent to their personal address, giving them easy access to your car.
3. Purchase Personalized plates. That way if your car is stolen, it will be easier to locate. Did you know that thieves are less likely to steal cars with personalized plates? They know they are too easy to spot.
4. No Identifying Information. Never leave your name, address or phone number on your key chain. Someone could find your lost keys, locate your house, find your car, and drive away with it. Not to mention that since most people keep a house key on their key chain, the thief now has entrance to your home as well!
5. Don’t Park In Unattended Lots. Cars that are left in unattended parking lots are more likely to be stolen than those that aren’t. In fact, your best bet would be to park under a streetlight or in a well-lit area. If you have to park in a public car garage, be sure it is staffed with a security guard at all times.
6. Roll Up Your Windows. Thieves can enter cars that have cracked windows so make sure that you roll up your windows and lock them before leaving your car unattended.
7. Remove valuables. Don’t leave personal items or valuables in plain sight. Hide any loose dollar bills, change, cell phones, purse, pagers, etc. This is especially true during the holiday season. Hide all your purchases in the trunk of your car. Never leave them inside the car in full view.
8. Don’t Leave Your Car Running. OK, this might sound like common sense but there are many people who leave their cars running while they run errands, only to return to the space where they left their car and find it gone!