October is National Crime Prevention Month, and we are sharing tips to help protect your vehicle and keep your belongings safe.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a motor vehicle is stolen every 44 seconds in the U.S. However, between 40 and 50 percent of vehicle theft is the result of driver error.
Here are a few vehicle theft prevention tips to keep in mind:
- Park in well-lit areas, and if it’s an attended parking lot, leave only the ignition/door key with the attendant.
- Lock the vehicle, and always take the keys with you. Never hide a second set of keys in your vehicle.
- Completely close windows when parking, and keep valuables out of plain sight.
- Park with the wheels turned toward the curb, so that it is difficult to tow the vehicle away.
- If the vehicle has rear-wheel drive, backing it into your driveway will also make it more difficult to tow.
- Install an antitheft device or system in the vehicle.
- Leave business cards, address labels and other identification inside your vehicle. In the event it’s stolen this will help law enforcement.