Warmer weather can mean a rise in crime, as thieves take advantage of those who leave doors and windows open and/or unlocked.
How can you protect your car from a possible break-in? Here are 5 steps to help lower your chances of a break-in.
1. Lock your car door
Many of us may always remember to lock our car doors when we’re out and parking our car in public lots or garages but don’t think to lock the car once we get home.Unfortunately, locking your car when you’re home is just as important as when you’re out.
Just a little over a week ago, the Franklin PD were investigating 2 car thefts that occurred on the same day in the same area of town. In both situations, the vehicles were stolen from the owner’s driveways. Car doors were unlocked and keys left in the car in both situation.
“Leaving car keys under floor mats, is very common knowledge for crooks. Safe communities, like Franklin, are attractive to criminals because residents may feel safe enough to let their guard down; don’t,” Franklin PD wrote on their blog.
2. Keep the interior clean
A cop once told me, “They’ll break into your car if they see a banana on the floor.” Take everything out of the cockpit – cups, loose change, magazines, rags – everything. Even if there is an empty shopping bag on the floor, a thief doesn’t know it’s empty until he smashes your window and has a closer look. Your goal is to make thieves move on to the next car, and there isn’t anything less attractive to them than a pristine cockpit (Source).
3. Don’t leave a vehicle running, even if you’ll just be inside a business for a “minute.”
Vehicle thefts and break-ins, whether committed by professional thieves or those looking for some quick cash, are typically crimes of opportunity, said Carol Kaplan, director of Public Affairs at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (Source).
A running car is simply a green light to a car thief.
4. Park in well-lit locations
Thieves hate a crowd, so park where there are people and other cars around. Don’t let your car be concealed by bigger vehicles, foliage or other obstruction. Also, there are likely to be cameras in busy areas, which may help you get your stuff back if you get ripped off (Source).
5. Stash before — not after — you park
Get in the habit of putting shopping bags in the trunk right when you return to the vehicle, rather than after you park at the next place. According to National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) spokesman Frank Scafidi, thieves sometimes linger in busy parking lots looking for valuables being moved out of sight. Don’t display to them what you have (Source).
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