How to protect your car when it's parked

It's wise to worry about your car when you park it in someone else's place, especially if that place doesn't seem particularly friendly to you. Sometimes the thought of leaving the car in a vulnerable position completely gets in our way. But learning how to prevent your car from being broken into or stolen is information we all need, especially if you own a car from the mid-1990s or early 2000s - these models have the highest theft rate in the United States.

The reason thieves are attracted to old cars is because sometimes they have rare parts that can make more money at auto shops. Another reason is that old cars are easy to break into. One example is the mid-90s Honda, which sometimes has the same ignition switches, even between different models. Because of this, thieves can create something like a master key from a single modified key that is capable of accessing many different cars.

If you can't find a secure location, such as a garage or car park, that can cost extra money to secure, follow these steps to keep your car safe when it's parked and deter potential thieves.

Part 1 of 1: How to secure a parked car

Step 1: Lock the doors. Always lock your car doors when you get out, no matter where you are.

This is probably the most obvious of all the carjacking and theft prevention tips and can turn off many lazy criminals or those who just want to pull off a theft quickly. Obviously, time is of the essence for any criminal, and the more time he spends trying not to get caught, the less effort he is likely to put into trying.

But this probability is of course dependent on location, so it's also important to pay attention to your surroundings when you're parking.

Step 2: Choose a good parking spot. Is your car parked in a public place? Is it an open space or is it closed? Are there many pedestrians walking or passing by? Is he light or dark?

These are really important questions to consider when you are trying to secure your car before parking. The more open and lighted the place you park, the better. Thieves will be scared away by other strangers, who may turn out to be police officers or good old Samaritans, who will most likely arrest them and send them straight to the courthouse.

On the other hand, if the location is secluded and dark, the thief has plenty of time to learn his craft and escape with all your belongings, and maybe even your car.

Step 3: Close all windows and sunroof if you have one.. If the windows and sunroof are not closed when you lock the doors, then the doors will basically unlock.

It can be easy to forget that the sunroof is open or one of the rear windows is down, especially if it's warm and quiet. Always pay attention to this as you are inviting car thieves right into your car with 100% unlimited access.

• A warning: If it's a hot summer day, it's stuffy inside the car, and you want to break the window, make sure you do it just enough so that the thief can't squeeze his fingers to the top of the window and pull it down. .

Step 4: Check if the trunk lid is open. If you have a key that allows you to open the trunk with the push of a button, you can test it before you leave your parked car.

Most cars with this feature will alert you from the dash if the trunk is open, but if your car is off and you put your keys in your pocket, you could potentially press a button and open the trunk.

You can be sure that if a thief targets your car, he will check all possible ways to get into the car. If the trunk is accidentally left open, they can access your car through the back seat, and if you have valuables in the trunk, they will most certainly be taken away.

Getting out of a parked car, checking the trunk takes only two seconds, and it's worth it.

Step 5. Hide all valuable items. If you have valuables in your car, stash them in the trunk, glove box or center console.

The ideal situation is that you don't store any valuables in the car at all, but this isn't always the case.

Whatever you do, keep them out of sight. If valuables are left open, they are essentially an unwrapped birthday present for the perpetrator, and know that every day is his birthday, and all they have access to is a birthday present. The only thing they might have to "unroll" is your car's window, which leaves you in a situation where you've not only lost something of value that you might have to pay to replace, but car repairs that will cost you money. to correct.

Step 6: Look at your anti-theft devices. Consider purchasing an anti-theft device such as a car alarm, steering wheel lock, or car locks that disable the ignition or fuel system, which can help deter criminals, who are of course looking for an easy theft that won't draw any attention to them. .

Also consider the value of anti-theft services such as LoJack or OnStar. Initially, LoJack can be expensive, but it can also give you a discount on car insurance.

Step 7. If you are buying a car, look for a car with a smart key. A car controlled by a digital smart key cannot be stolen because it can be controlled by a smart key and only by a smart key, which requires proximity.

The computer chip that controls the key cannot be modified or copied. For more information on how to work with the smart key, please read this article.

Step 8: Never Leave Your Car On. Some people like to warm up the engine and cab before driving in the winter.

While they are waiting, they will most likely return inside to, for example, collect their things for work. But almost a third of car thefts occur near the owner's home. So do yourself (and your insurance bill) a favor by sitting in your car while it warms up, and never let your car idle while you're away from it.

You love your car, so it's important to be as careful as possible and know where you leave it, even when you're in a hurry. However, the more responsible and knowledgeable you are about where you park your car, the safer it can be when you park it.