How to Protect Your Car from The Increasing Vandalism and Break-Ins


According to research, property crimes like motor vehicle theft, break-ins, vandalism, and burglaries are far more common in the US than violent crimes. Over the past few years, property crime rates have statistically gone down, but break-ins and vehicle vandalism are still common. A nasty neighbor with a grudge or a random thief across the street might still damage or steal from your car.
Here are a few ways you can prevent car theft and vandalism:

Park safely

The way you park your car makes a lot of difference. If you have a garage, it’s safer to keep the car locked inside. Get high-security locks for your garage door or get an automated garage door altogether.
When you’re parking, make sure the parking area is well-lit. Choose a parking spot that’s visible to the nearby pedestrians easily. If you’re parking after the sun has gone down, make sure you’re parking under or near a streetlight.
Thieves are less likely to target your car and break the windshield if there is a potential audience or sufficient light around the car.

When you re-enter the car after leaving it in the parking lot for some time, make sure you inspect it for any signs of damage or vandalism. It’s also advisable to scan the surrounding area and see if something’s wrong.

Don’t leave the engine running

It’s a bad idea to leave your car running if you’re not sitting inside. Even if you’re out for quick errands, make sure the ignition is turned off, the car is locked, and more importantly, you’ve taken the keys with you. If you have to go grab something quickly, it might be tempting to leave it on.
However, it’s not safe. A running engine makes a thief’s job a lot easier. All they have to do is hop inside and drive it away. In fact, you might be surprised to know that in Texas, it’s illegal to leave your car unattended if it’s running.
When you’re exiting the car, make sure the trunk, tailgate, and hatchback are all locked. Keep all doors and windows locked as well. This includes the wing windows, vents, and the sunroof.


Cover your valuables

Even if your car is parked right in your front yard, it shouldn’t contain anything that might tempt a thief. Conceal your valuables. Please don’t put them under the seat. If you’re standing outside a grocery store, someone might see you doing so. We recommend putting them in the trunk or the glove box before arriving at the store. It’s better to take them with you when you leave the car.
Valuables may include a laptop, cash, important documents, personal mail, ornaments, an expensive gadget, garage door opener, a watch, or essential keys. As far as the vehicle registration documents are concerned, make sure you keep a copy and blackout the addresses and any other sensitive details.
Your biggest defense against vandalism and break-ins is a maximum precaution. However, if your vehicle falls prey to such criminal activity, get the damage repaired as soon as possible.
If the windshield has been affected, there’s no better option than Auto Glass in San Antonio. They’ve been offering windshield repair and replacement services in San Antonio, TX over the past thirty years. Here are the details.


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