Vehicle Protection Tips from the MCPA |
Protect Your Vehicle: Vehicles can be stolen by experienced thieves for parts or by inexperienced thieves to take for a joy ride. Below are some easy tips to enhance your vehicles safety. Park inside — Whenever possible, park in your garage and not in your driveway or the street. Lock it — Always keep your vehicle doors locked, even while you are driving. Light it up — If you must park outdoors during evening hours, park under a street or parking lot light. Shut it off — Never leave your car running unattended. Don’t advertise — Remove all valuables that are attractive to a thief. Protect your information — Don’t leave bills or other documents with personal information in your vehicle. Identify it — Have your vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on your car windows as a means of deterring theft. Additionally, stolen cars are more easily traced when VIN numbers are available. Theft Statistics: According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) • A motor vehicle is stolen in the U.S. every 26.4 seconds. In 2005, the odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 207. The odds are highest in urban areas. • Auto theft is an estimated $7.5 billion business and continues to grow. • A burglary occurs somewhere in the U.S. every 15.4 seconds. |
