Five Sure-Fire Ways to Get Your Car Stolen

Most people would say their car is one of their most valuable assets – if not the most valuable. Despite that, however, some people make it downright easy for thieves to drive off in their pride and joy.

We don’t want you walking out your door to an empty driveway or leaving the local mall only to find some broken glass left behind in your parking space. So take care to avoid these five mistakes.

1. Leave your car running – and unattended. We know it can be chilly in the mornings, and who wants to wait in a cold car while it warms up? A thief certainly won’t mind the chill – as he’s driving away in your car while you’re finishing that cup of coffee in your kitchen. If your car is running, you should be in it. Period. Even if you’re just running over to the ATM to get some cash or dropping off some mail.
2. Keep a spare set of keys inside the car. Law enforcement agencies say this is a great way to turn a car prowler into a car thief. They’re already breaking into your car to get a phone, or a laptop, etc. What do you think they will do when they find a set of keys? They’re not going to drop them off on your porch with a nice note, that’s for sure.
3. Put valuables in plain sight. It seems simple, but we’ve all made this mistake. You’ll just be in the store for a second, after all, so who cares if you leave your smartphone on the front seat? Or items from your other errands in the back seat? Be smart – if you have to leave items in your car, put them in the trunk, or at least hide them as best you can. And do it before you get to your next destination.
4. Leave your car unsecured. Even the worst thieves can steal a car that’s been left unlocked and without an alarm set. Even the best thieves can work wonders with a window that’s left open even just a crack.
5. Assume nobody would want to steal your car. Do you think your car is too old or too undesirable for a thief to bother? Scrap metal is worth money, so never assume your car is safe – even if you think it’s just a “junker”.

Keeping thieves away helps to keep everyone’s insurance costs down, so avoiding these mistakes will not only save you hassle but also money. So stay safe, not only on the roads but also in the parking lots!

Reposted with permission from the original author, Safeco Insurance ®

Top image by Flickr user russellstreet used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.