Being a vehicle owner gives many people an unparalleled sense of freedom. It gives them the option to go where they want, whenever they want, at least in theory. But as fun as owning a vehicle can be, there are also responsibilities that go along with it. Next to driving safely, the most important one is keeping thieves out of the vehicle.
Although insurance may be able to cover the value of any goods that are taken from your vehicle, or even the vehicle itself if it gets stolen, this can still be an extremely upsetting situation. It is a lot easier just to avoid it in the first place, and one of the best ways to do that is to make your car less of a target. Many criminals look for the easiest prospect, so making your vehicle just a little bit more complicated than others will cause most thieves to look elsewhere.
Here are a few handy tips you can use to do that.
Hide your valuables
It would be better not to carry valuables in your car at all, but it is not always possible to avoid this. The next best thing is to store them in places where prying eyes cannot see them. Underneath seats, or in the glove compartment are good examples. The ideal time to do this is actually before you park. That way, nobody should see you do it. You could pull over at the side of the road before you reach your destination.
If your valuable items are too large to hide in places like the glove compartment, then bring a blanket to cover them or invest in some custom car side window shades that fit your windows well, making it hard for people to peek inside. If it is hot outside, this will also help to keep the inside of your car cool. The idea of hiding your goods is that breaking into cars is risky and takes some effort, so criminals naturally prefer to do it when they are certain that they will get something valuable out of it.
Hide other signs of valuable items
Hiding or obstructing the view of your items is a good start, but savvy criminals are aware that people might do this and so they look for other signs of valuable items that you might forget about. For example, if you have just come from a shopping mall where you had to display a parking ticket in your windscreen and it is still there, then people can infer that your shopping might still be in the car. Another example is a mark on the windscreen from a suction cup. This indicates that a phone or GPS might be inside.
Park judiciously
Park in busy, well-lit areas whenever possible. This deters many thieves from even trying to look inside your vehicle.
Conclusion Car manufacturers tend to focus more on safety features than security. They include locks and car alarms, but besides that it is mostly left to drivers to be vigilant and protect their valuable belongings. Theft from motor vehicles is unfortunately quite common, but following the tips above should reduce your odds of becoming a victim.