How to Protect Your Vehicle from Thieves

Along with your home, your vehicle is often your most valuable possession. How can you protect your vehicle from thieves in Orange County, Los Angeles, or wherever you go? By following these easy tips.

Lock your doors.

Car thieves are often opportunists who will go after a vehicle because it’s easy to steal. Your first line of defense is to keep your door locked. Many models have walk-away technology that automatically locks your auto with the key fob when you walk a certain distance away from it. Ask your dealer at the Beach Boulevard of Cars in Huntington Beach if this feature is available on the model level that you want.

Take your keys.

Always take your keys with you, even if you’re quickly running into a gas station office to pay for a fill-up. Otherwise, a thief can conveniently drive your car away. Never keep spare keys in your vehicle because criminals know all your hiding places.

Consider keeping your garage door opener with your keys so you can take it with you when you leave your car. If you leave your opener on your sun visor or dashboard, a thief who steals your vehicle can use the address on your registration to head to your home, open your garage door, and break in.

Hide your valuables.

Putting a smartphone, purse, wallet, or package on your car’s dashboard, seat, or other visible area invites someone to take it. Bring valuables with you; if you can’t, hide them out of sight, preferably in the trunk.

Close the windows.

If your windows are open, a thief can reach in and take your valuables or unlock the door to enter. Keep all your windows closed whenever you exit.

Watch where you park.

Thieves don’t want to attract attention, so park in a well-lit area with a lot of foot traffic. If it’s in an area where security makes its rounds, near the entrance where the store clerk is stationed, or near a guard shack, so much the better.

Invest in security tech.

Many models, especially in the higher trim levels, have built-in security tech to deter thieves:

• Alarms make plenty of noise and can flash your headlamps to attract attention that criminals don’t want.
• Engine immobilizers shut down your engine unless it’s started with the smart key that is coded to it. This prevents your car from being “hotwired” to bypass the ignition.
• A vehicle recovery or tracking system relies on GPS to send a signal to the police or security service that shows the location of your vehicle if it’s stolen. This helps law enforcement locate your vehicle more quickly.

Report the theft.             

Over a 3rd of all vehicles reported stolen within the first 24 hours after the crime are recovered, so there’s a good chance that your car can be returned after the theft. Send the following information to the police as soon as you discover that your vehicle is gone:

• Year, make, model, color, and any distinguishing characteristics of your model.
• Vehicle Identification Number or VIN.
• License plate number.

Discover more.

Want to find out more about how to prevent auto theft? Then head to one of the dealers at the Beach Boulevard of Cars for some advice and some live demonstrations of security technology.