Car thieves are always coming up with more
improved ways of stealing cars at the detriment of
the owners, leaving them unsafe and
uncomfortable when driving their cars outside their
homes. Although cars often come with locks and
securities, they are usually not enough to stop the thieves. Also sometimes a large amount of car
thefts is due to the negligence and carelessness of
the owner. However, there are a number of ways
within our reach that can be used to prevent car
theft and they include. • Close all windows and lock all doors and the boot
(trunk), even if you only leave your car for a
moment.
• Never leave your vehicle running unattended.
• Where possible, park in a well-lit highly visible
area, preferably off the road. At night, choose secure or well-lit car parks, with pedestrian traffic.
Avoid leaving your vehicle in a car park for a long
time.
• Try to park the vehicle with the front facing an
obstacle and lock the steering.
• Always try to use all protection you have on the vehicle. Put all labels for protection devices in a
visible place as this will scare petty thieves away
(do not display your GPS label)
• Disable the vehicle using a starter interrupt switch
( "kill switch" ). Installation is not expensive.
• Use VIN etching. This chemically etches the Vehicle Identification Number or registration
number on the windows of your vehicle which is an
effective deterrent for thieves. "Chop shops" (places
where stolen cars are disassembled to be sold for
parts) thrive on vehicles that have easily removable
VINs or no etching at all. • If you leave the vehicle for a longer period, take
off the fuses, or disconnect the power supply, after
consulting your mechanic.
• These precautions should be taken even if your
car is in your garage. Also close all access to the
garage (entry barriers) and the garage door itself. • Never leave your keys with car park employees
or in car wash services.
• Never mark your keys with your name and
address. Mark them with your business name and
suburb or driver's license number.
• At your home, do not leave keys lying around on tables, desks or key hooks.
• Remove registration papers from your motor
vehicle, to make it difficult for the thief to sell it on
the black market.