Keep vehicle doors locked, remove temptation to steal

I remember when I was growing up, the most popular accessories on a vehicle were an automatic transmission and an air conditioner. Times have changed. In our digital technology age, items like GPS systems, radar detectors, stereos, DVD screens and players, laptop computers and cell phones have become the norm. Unfortunately, these things are also the most common items stolen from vehicles. Of course, purses, wallets and checkbooks are still popular.

For you good, ol’ boys with pickups, tools and construction equipment always will work in a pinch.

I am amazed at the number of reports that have been filed where purses, laptops, GPS units and other electronics have been left lying in the center console or on the seat. You don’t have to buy special hardware or software to prevent vehicle burglaries. Just follow the basics: Lock your car anytime you leave it unattended. Yes, especially in your driveway – even during daylight hours. Vehicle burglaries can occur in broad daylight in public parking lots just as easily as it can in your driveway in the dark.
When in public parking lots, park in a well-lighted area, not only for preventing a vehicle burglary, but also for your own safety.

Park in an area where there is a direct path to the front of the store. The more people who pass by your car, the more people who might see something suspicious.
Remove the temptation. Take out any items that would draw attention. Those little red or green lights on charging cords are an invitation for burglars. If you have a charger on, especially at night, it usually means some electronic item is hooked up to it. If you leave anything visible and unattended in your car, you are asking someone to steal it.

Keep an eye out for people who seem to be walking in parking lots aimlessly but never get into a car.
Keep anything in the bed of a pickup secured. Pressure washers, generators, hand tools and yard tools can easily grow legs and walk away. We’ve even had reports of lawn equipment taken from landscaping trucks or trailers in broad daylight while workers are mowing a yard.

Record serial numbers on anything that has a serial number. If you have a model number and serial number on an item, it can be traced through several databases available to law enforcement and it may help you get your property returned. If you don’t keep the serial number and model number, you can almost be guaranteed you won’t get it back.

The key is to remove the opportunity, motive, and ability for a thief to break into your vehicle. Remove any one of these three parts of a crime, and the crime will generally not occur.