Boulder Car Thefts Are On The RISE! 7 Ways To Go Home With Your Car

1. Always Lock Your Vehicle: This may seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Even if you’re stepping away from your car for just a minute, lock it. Unlocked cars are easy targets for thieves. At night, an unlocked car becomes part of the 10 cars parked outside where you live. The unlocked ones are ransacked. Is your garage door (the small ones, not the ones for car entry) locked? Just as cars outside at night are cruised, garage doors have their handles wiggled to find the unlocked ones. I like WiFi security recording cameras, which start under $50, and I like motion detector outdoor lights. Both play a role in car protection. Dark night is a thief’s best friend. Check ALL doors for being locked. Might as well check your brake lights and other lights if you have someone with you to take the helm and operate the lights. My elderly car lock electronics are a tad confused. The “lock” button might lock whatever doors it chooses. The unlock button varies in which locks it opens. It has so far almost always included the driver’s door. Check all of them. If any windows aren’t closed you’ll notice that. And on the right day that can save you from getting back to a car with nothing missing, and a pile of snow on one of the seats.

2. Use a Steering Wheel Lock: Devices like The Club are visible deterrents that can dissuade thieves from attempting to steal your car. They make the theft process significantly more complicated.  compelled to order one while writing this paragraph, I spent $20 on Amazon for last week’s version. NO LED light in the end of the bar. They range from $25 to about $50 in various configurations. Amazon, the one I got. NOT yet received.

3. Install an Alarm System: If your car doesn’t come with an alarm system, consider installing one. The loud noise will attract attention and can scare off thieves. Many cars have at the very least a crude alarm system which should be activated. Even the annoying horn alarms and flashing lights are frequently effective. At least one person KNOWS that the horn’s pulsing scream is in reaction to the theft he or she is attempting.

4. Park in Well-Lit, Secure Areas: Thieves prefer to work in the dark to avoid detection. Parking in well-lit areas or secure parking garages can reduce the risk of your car being targeted. Parking under a light may prove safer than parking in a dark corner of a parking lot. Our personal safety is more important that the protection of our car or our stuff.

5. Don’t Leave Valuables in Sight: Items like phones, laptops, or even spare change can tempt thieves. Keep your valuables out of sight, either by taking them with you or storing them in the trunk. My mother was incredibly paranoid about visible purses in a locked car. That was when we lived in North Syracuse, New York, where there was virtually no crime. She had as a child lived in Brooklyn, and before it was a tawny borough. Even a jacket over a camera is better than leaving it exposed, and the trunk is best, and keeps the camera out of the sun. Holiday presents, wrapped and visible, are very rich picking. Perhaps one of the most popular target! And the saddest. The thief simply does not care that someone is getting hurt, that some youngster will not get expected presents, that some donated gifts will never get donated.Let’s all do our part to keep our eyes on each other for the right reasons.

6. Use a Vehicle Tracking System: Systems like OnStar or aftermarket GPS trackers can help locate your vehicle if it’s stolen, increasing the chances of recovery.

7. Practice Vigilance in Public Places: Be aware of your surroundings, especially in busy public areas. If you notice suspicious activity or individuals loitering near cars, it’s best to find a different parking spot or report it to security or local law enforcement. This is a sub-category of perhaps the most important part of avoiding being victimized. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS!

Stay aware of what is going on around you. As we hear so often on the TV that I stream, for better or worse, “keep your head on a swivel.” You’ll be safer, your possessions will be safer, your car will be less likely to be targeted, and your neck will stay looser.

Remember, no method is foolproof, but combining these strategies can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of car theft. Using any two of them probably puts you into the top 1% of those who have cars, in taking concrete action to protect one our most expensive possessions. That is also why in spite of our best efforts, we buy insurance!

Be careful out there!

Lenny