5 Ways to prevent Thieves from Stealing from your Vehicle in Salem, OR

5. Keep Your Valuables Out of the Car

This may seem fairly obvious, but it needs to be emphasized. If there's nothing in your car that's worth stealing, the prospective thief is likely to move on. This isn't always the case, but more often than not, if the thief doesn't immediately see anything that is worth the trouble of breaking into your car, then they won't even bother. Most thieves look for items like laptops, smartphones, and other electronics that are easily accessible and concealable. These types of small but expensive items pose a high-risk of being stolen, so it's best that you keep them on your person when you aren't in the vehicle with them.

4. Park Somewhere Safe

Nothing is one-hundred-percent effective in preventing crime, and criminals can be found anywhere. However, there are some circumstances that discourage criminals and better help to keep you and your property safe. Parking your car in a well-lit area can help prevent criminals from even approaching your vehicle. The increased exposure that a well-lit area provides means any untoward activity is easier to identify from a distance. This higher-risk scenario is a good measure to take so that all but the most brazen and brash would-be thieves stay away from your vehicle and property. Similarly, parking in a lot that's monitored by cameras is another good way to deter thieves.

3. Make Sure Your Vehicle is Secure

Most thieves are opportunistic. This means that they're more likely to take the path of least resistance than to work for their rewards. Taking simple measures like locking your doors and closing your windows makes the thief's job that much more difficult. If they can't just open your door or reach through your window, they'll need to use tools to pick your lock or lower your window. Either that or they could just smash your window in. Either way, the longer they mess with your vehicle or the more noise they make, the more likely it is that someone will notice their presence and catch them.

2. Have an Anti-Theft Alarm System

A lot of vehicles come standard with an anti-theft alarm system. These systems can do everything from emit an obnoxiously loud sounds that both repel anyone in the immediate vicinity and garner the attention of everyone that can hear the alarm. Again, no safety measure can absolutely guarantee to stop criminals, but this simple feature can help to scurry away any faint-hearted and easily-startled thieves. If your vehicle doesn't come standard with an anti-theft alarm, most makes and models can have one installed. Call our team at Capitol Chevy to see if your vehicle is eligible for an anti-theft alarm today.

1. Know Exactly What You Have in Your Car

Sometimes, you can take every possible precaution and still be victimized by a thief. In instances like this, it's best to at least know exactly what was taken. Whether the items stolen can be compensated or not, having an intimate knowledge of the missing items can help them be recovered by law enforcement. It's best to have a document somewhere that has the brand, model number, and serial number of your vehicle's stereo, your GPS unit, or anything else that may have been taken from your vehicle. Having this information will help identify your items should they attempt to be pawned or sold by the thief or their associates.