Preventing Larceny From Autos

Millions of dollars in merchandise are stolen from vehicles every year and the amount is steadily increasing. The total cost does not include damage to autos, the insurance costs as a result of these thefts, or the bitter disappointment of a victim.

A large number of these thefts occur at night, however, they can and do occur any time the opportunity presents itself to a thief.

Auto Theft Prevention Tips
The tips given are simple, inexpensive, and mainly require observing proper habits in respect to the care of your car when leaving it unattended. As with all crime prevention, the responsibility is yours. You must take charge of your affairs. We can only advise from our experience.

• The best advice that can be given is to simply not leave anything in your vehicle in plain sight which you would not want taken.
• Always lock your doors even if you plan to be away from your vehicle for only a minute, such as running in to pay for gas.
• Park in well lit areas.
• When shopping, always make sure to place purchases in the trunk and out of sight before going to the next shopping area to park.
• Try to maintain a “clutter free” vehicle.
• If you don’t have the luxury of parking your vehicle in the garage at night and have to leave it parked in the driveway or on the street in front of the house, make sure to remove the garage door opener. This is a key to your home.
• Consider replacing standard license plate screws with theft deterrent screws available at auto parts stores.

Again, the best advice is to not leave anything in your vehicle, or at least in plain sight, that you would not want taken. Even the smallest most insignificant items left in plain view could result in a window being smashed which causes a great deal of expense and mess. If you will eliminate the opportunity, you will more than likely eliminate the crime.