Cars are the second-most expensive assets people own after properties. That’s why we must protect them the same way we do our homes.
Alarmingly, in 2022, more than 8,000 vehicles were stolen in Toronto alone. This is likely due to a combination of a lack of preventative measures being taken by vehicle owners and an increase in organized crime.
We’ve put together a few simple yet effective measures you can take in order to protect your car from theft:
It sounds simple enough, but this is something people actually forget at times. Some deliberately don’t lock their car, especially if they only have to leave it for a short time, such as when unloading groceries or warming it up in the winter.
This short amount of time is enough for thieves to steal your car and drive off. If you leave your car unattended, no matter how briefly, make sure it's locked.
Poorly lit, quiet areas are ideal places for stealing cars. Thieves cannot easily be seen if it’s dark, and there are fewer people to catch them if the parking area has low foot traffic.
Choose to park in well-lit areas or spaces where people regularly walk by. It’s also better to park on a road where there’s passing traffic, even if it means walking further to get to your car. A little inconvenience is better than finding your car gone.
Leaving laptops, tablets, phones, and other valuable items in plain sight is asking for trouble. Even if your car doesn’t get stolen, your valuables are reason enough for a thief to want to break in.
You could hide your laptop or tablet, however, thieves are using Bluetooth scanners to “pair” and find any electronics you may be hiding in the car. So instead of randomly breaking into cars, they use Bluetooth to remove the guesswork.
Just because you don’t have any keys to secure because your car is keyless doesn’t mean your car is safe.
Car thieves have found a simple way to open keyless cars. It’s called a relay attack.
A relay attack is when two criminals work together to commit a crime. One stands near the house to pick up a signal from the key and then transmits it to a device the second criminal is holding while he stands near the car. The device fools the car into “thinking” that the key is present.
In as little as 15 seconds, your car could be gone.
Since relay devices can’t penetrate metal, you can prevent relay attacks by placing your keys in a metal box. Alternatively, you can wrap it in aluminum foil or buy a signal-blocking pouch.
One of the most effective ways to protect your car from theft is by investing in a steering wheel lock. Steering wheel locks work by locking the steering wheel in place with a rod, making it impossible to steer the car.
It might not be aesthetically pleasing to look at, but criminals are less likely to attempt theft if they see a steering wheel lock inside your vehicle.
Ensuring total security of your car involves various elements. Deter and catch anyone prowling your property by beefing up your driveway, garage, and streetside area with security cameras.
Outdoor security cameras that are installed in your driveway, garage, and streetside don’t only deter car thieves, but they could also help to recover the vehicle if it does get stolen. Smart security cameras, in particular, have an app where you can get alerted if suspicious activity is detected on the premises.
We hope these tips gave you some ideas on how to protect your car from theft. With our help, you can enhance the security of your premises.
Think Protection offers affordable home security cameras that reduce the risk of your car or home being targeted by thieves. With easy installation and intuitive setup, thinkpro provides a reliable solution to secure your home and property.
With no hidden costs, no installation fees, no contracts, and low monthly plans, getting top-notch security has never been easier.
Contact a thinkpro advisor or call (855) 76-THINK to learn more.
