that $7.4 billion was lost due to motor vehicle theft in 2020.
According to the
Insurance Information Institute, thieves are getting increasingly savvy, using
smart keys to steal cars and switching vehicle identification numbers to avoid
detection.
It’s also alarming
that between Jan. 1, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2018, there were 229,339 thefts of
vehicles with keys and fobs left inside.
Follow the tips
below to help safeguard your car and valuables:
1. LOCK YOUR DOORS
AND CLOSE YOUR WINDOWS
Keeping your doors
locked and the windows closed is the first step in deterring a thief.
2. REMOVE YOUR KEYS
FROM THE VEHICLE
3. DON’T LEAVE YOUR
CAR RUNNING
4. DON’T LEAVE
VALUABLES IN THE CAR
Many times thieves
see something they like, so they break in and take it. Make sure you take your
valuables with you, or keep them out of sight.
5. PARK IN WELL-LIT
AREAS
If you’re parking
your car somewhere after the sun has gone down, try to find a spot underneath a
streetlight that’s well-lit and well trafficked.
6. USE A VISIBLE OR
AUDIBLE DEVICE
Another layer of
protection is to install an audible alarm system and anti-theft device.
7. INSTALL A
VEHICLE IMMOBILIZER
install a vehicle immobilizer system that will disable the vehicle so a thief
can’t take off with it. These include smart keys, fuse cut-offs, and kill
switches.
8. INVEST IN A
TRACKING SYSTEM
system that emits a signal to the police or monitoring service when the vehicle
is reported stolen. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner
and the vehicle can be tracked by computer.