According to a report from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), there’s a lot you can do to protect your vehicle from theft – but is it enough?
Let’s start with a quick list of the top stolen vehicles in 2014 as reported by the NHTSA:
- Honda Accord
- Honda Civic
- General Motors Silverado
- Toyota Camry
- Ford F150
- Ford Econoline
- Ford 250
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota Corolla
- General Motors GMT
If you have a vehicle on your lot or in your garage is on the list, it’s time to take precautions – especially since July and August are the top two months for vehicle theft. Tips from the NHTSA are a good place to start and are mostly common sense:
Take your key; don’t leave it in or on your vehicle.
Getting distracted is easy. From checking your cell phone, to being late for work or having to corral the kids, it’s easy to leave your keys behind. Instead of mindlessly shoving them in your pocket or purse, take a split second to hold them in your hand and make a mental note, “I have my keys.”
Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
A quick glance around your vehicle or double-checking with passengers that all windows are rolled up takes seconds. And giving that door lock clicker a couple extra clicks might seem excessive, but it’s better than coming back to your parking spot and finding that your car is missing.
Park in well-lit areas – in a garage, if possible.
Deter any would-be thieves by being as safe as possible. They’d much rather steal a vehicle from a dark street than one parked under a street light or in a garage with security cameras. If you park during the day and will be away until after dark, be aware of your surroundings.
Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially in sight.
This one is pretty straightforward. Keep things in a compartment or in your trunk – better yet, take all valuables with you. If not, you’ll be lucky to come back to a busted window and items missing. Often, thieves will consider it a more lucrative score, and you’ll come back to nothing.
Now here’s a bonus tip from us:
Protect yourself with a GPS-based vehicle tracking app.
With Spireon’s Kahu app, you’ll know where your car is at all times and find it on demand 24/7 using any smartphone or browser. In the event that your car is stolen, Kahu can also alert local police authorities. That’s why the average recovery time of a stolen vehicle with Kahu is just 26 minutes. You can even set a geographic boundary around your car and receive an alert if it crosses that boundary. That way, you’ll know that your parked car is staying parked.
Don’t let your vehicle become one of the 45% that are never recovered! Protect it with simple, practical tips, as well as advanced, connected car technology from Spireon. Click here to learn more about Kahu.