It’s no secret car theft is a major issue in Ontario, with a car stolen on average every six minutes, often right from their owners’ driveways.
But there are some things you can do to deter thieves and keep your car safe, according to CAA Insurance.
There are the basics, of course, that include locking your car doors and parking your vehicle in a garage if you have one, never leaving the vehicle running unattended in the driveway.
“The belief that cars needed to run/warm-up before driving is an outdated practice when cars relied on carburetors,” a news release states. “With modern fuel systems, it’s not necessary for a well-maintained car to run for more than 30 seconds to start driving. In fact, idling for long periods can be harmful to your car engine and the environment.”
Other easy tips include ensuring items are out of sight and no valuables or shopping bags are left in the car overnight. If you have multiple cars, consider parking the less expensive one closest to the street.
CAA also suggests covering the vehicle identification number (VIN) so that it’s not visible on the dashboard.
Looking to take things one step further?
- install bollards, or posts, on your property
- put motion sensors on your driveway and security cameras to capture any activity
- keep the perimeter of the property lit
- keeping your key fobs inside your home in Faraday boxes or pouches
- secure your vehicle with an anti-theft deterrent like a steering wheel or brake pedal lock when parked
- have an after-market immobilizer professionally installed.
“Such devices, when armed, prevents the activation of a control unit such as the engine or ignition. To disarm the system, a coded key, a keypad or a remote device is required,” the release states.
Lastly, you could keep a tracking device like an Air Tag in your car or install a GPS tracking system. While it won’t prevent thieves necessarily, it can help with recovery in the event your car is stolen.
