The S.F. Chronicle has posted multiple articles about the Bay Area’s car theft crisis in the past week. The numbers of both car break-ins and full-blown car stealing are at all-time highs.
While most people have some type of financial cushion through their auto insurance policies, car thefts can still be crippling to the bank account, not to mention the owner’s ability to get to work.
Whether you’ve already been a car theft victim and want to prevent a repeat, or you’re looking for tips on how to stop a thief in their tracks, these tips offer a solid starting point.
If you live in San Francisco, check out the Chronicle’s real-time Car Break-In Map. It’s a clear indicator of the highest-risk neighborhoods and streets. While we know it’s easier said than done, do your best to park in an area with lower risk and walk or take public transportation whenever possible.
Similarly, many Bay Area residents are flipping the script on their vehicles' use. Instead of being a daily commuter or a “drive everywhere” kind of person, try using public transportation as much as you can - especially for shorter distances. In addition to saving significantly on gas and maintenance costs, the money you save can be put into public parking garage fees which are less likely targets for car theft than streets and alleyways.
The next best option is to park in well-lit, visible areas with lots of foot and auto traffic. These make it harder for auto thefts to occur without the suspect being seen. Also, CCTV footage may be on your side to catch them after the fact.
Let’s face it, none of us jump up to call the police when we hear a car alarm go off. Most of us just roll our eyes in annoyance, hope it stops soon, and move on with our business. Car thieves know that and aren’t very phased by the alarms either. Either they’ve already gotten away with their smash-and-grab loot, or they’ve stolen the car and are already on the road.
Smart car alarms are affordable and send an alert to your phone when the alarm is triggered. For a little more money, you can get a smart car alarm that also provides additional information, like whether the engine has been started or if the vehicle has moved from where you left it. They may also include a tracking device or built-in kill switch.
These won’t stop someone who smashes windows and takes things, but anti-theft devices that lock the steering wheel or flashlights to indicate an alarm is activated are proven deterrents. Thieves would rather steal something easier than spend the time and risk being noticed.
Many car thefts are premeditated, based on a slight change in habits. Car thieves will watch the same car and owner multiple times, waiting for the one time a distracted owner leaves a window cracked or forgets to lock all the doors. It only takes once.
Are you planning to tint your vehicle’s windows? If so, speak to the technician about shatter-proof film options. While they don’t protect a window from breaking, they hold all the pieces together, making it much harder for smash-and-grab thefts to succeed without being noticed. Once the thief breaks the window and realizes they can’t reach in and get what they want in a matter of seconds, they’re likely to get away as fast as possible to prevent being caught.
It’s far better to invest in roadside assistance than to leave a key in a hide-a-key on the outside or a spare key on the inside. Thieves are happy to look in all the usual locations - under mats, seats, in the glove compartment or auto manual, etc. - and then easily drive away.
Along that same line, never leave your car running and unattended - like when you warm it up in the morning. This is an invitation to have your car stolen.
Smart keys, kill switches, and other vehicle immobilizers are among the most effective ways to keep someone from stealing your car. These features make it impossible to hotwire a car or find other ways to bypass the ignition protection. Your smart car alarm can be connected to a kill switch, literally stopping the thief in their tracks - or your tires.
Car theft can be as simple as someone breaking in to grab your change stash or swipe an old CD book. So, practice minimalism and keep your car stripped of anything at all value. Otherwise, keep things stored in a closed, locked trunk when you’re not in your vehicle to keep them out of sight.
Car thieves can do a number on your car, rendering it unsafe (or unable) to drive once they’re done with it. Contact J&T Towing, and we’ll tow your car for you wherever you need to go.
