Auto Safety

Preventing Motor Vehicle Theft

• When you park your car, close the windows, lock the doors and take the key with you.
• If you must leave a key with a parking attendant, leave only your vehicle's ignition key.
• Install and use anti-theft devices, whether an alarm or a protective device like a club or a collar. Be sure to activate the device every time you leave your vehicle.
• Park only in well-lit areas near other vehicles.
• Keep valuables out of sight, preferably locked away in the trunk.
• Don't hide a spare key in a magnetic key box; thieves know all the hiding places.
• At home, if possible, put your car away in a locked garage, or at least parked in the driveway.
• If you have two cars and one of them is easy to break into, then park it in your driveway so it's blocked by the other car.
• When you park your car, turn the front wheels to the left or right and put the emergency brake on. This locks the wheels, making it difficult for a thief to tow your car.

Protect Your Belongings

• Don’t leave valuables in your car. Even items of relatively low value like change, CDs or sunglasses can be enough to tempt a thief.
• Make sure your car doors are locked, and that your car is parked in a well-lit area.
• Think about installing a wheel jam or an alarm. It may be enough to convince someone to look for an easier target.

Driving Safely

• Always lock your doors when you enter and exit your car. When entering, take a quick look in the back seat to ensure no one is hiding inside.
• Have your keys ready when you approach your car. You don’t want to spend time fumbling for your keys.
• Carry a cell phone, it’s an excellent safety device. If you don’t have one, you should have a CALL POLICE sticker available for viewing in your window.