5 Tips to Increase Your Car Security Awareness

Your car can sometimes feel like a second home. Driving to work, running errands, taking the kids to soccer practice—you spend a lot of time in your car—and so do some of your personal items, such as your purse, wallet, cell phone, and briefcase. “Most car thefts are crimes of opportunity. By following a few simple prevention methods, you can drastically reduce the chances of your car being broken into or stolen,” says Officer Andrew Kundinger, a police officer with the Sheboygan Police Department.

The following tips provided by Officer Kundinger can help reduce the likelihood of a break-in:

• Lock your doors. This tip may seem simple, but it is one of the most important ones on the list. Whenever you leave your car, please lock the doors. More than 80% of all car break-ins are vehicles that were left unlocked. Thieves seize the opportunity of an easy crime. By locking your doors, you are taking the first step toward prevention.
• Don’t leave your car running.  11% of all vehicles stolen have the keys left inside. By leaving your car running, even during the cold winter months, you are opening yourself up to the possibility of having your car stolen. When thieves see your car is running, they see an easy opportunity to steal your car.
• Make sure to bring personal items with you. Don’t leave your purse, cell phone, change, or other valuables lying out in the open. If people can casually look into your windows and see valuables, they may see it as an opportunity to break into your car and take the item.
• Check your surroundings. If possible, park in a lot that has an attendant. Having someone around your car, even if it is in the front of the lot, is a deterrent to thieves. Also, when it is dark, try to park under a light so that you don’t have to return to a dark area late at night.
• Install a car security alarm. By having an audible car alarm, you can scare off most criminals. When the alarm goes off, it alerts people nearby that something is going on with your vehicle, and that deters the thief from continuing with the crime. 

Keep these security tips in mind the next time you park your car on the street, stop at the grocery store to pick up milk, or run into the gas station on a cold morning to get some coffee. These small actions can make a huge difference in preventing crime.