Imagine having to go to work, the mall, or anywhere in a bus or a cab… when you have your own car!
Feels bad, doesn’t it?
This is a risk you’re taking every time you walk away from your car leaving it insecure and up for grabs…
We’re in a time when the car theft rate is rising all over the world.
That means you cannot sleep peacefully knowing that your car is not completely secure and making sure no one can access it.
So, if you need to get a good night’s sleep and stop worrying about your car, you need to learn how to keep it safe and secure.
Here’s how you make your car impenetrable for thieves, and everything else you need to know about this…
First of All, Who Wants to Steal Your Car?
Mainstream Thieves: these are the guys you should be most afraid of… they are responsible for most car thefts out there.
This kind of thieves most likely take your car to a spare parts shop so it can be dismantled and sold in pieces unless they have a way to export it out of the country and get it sold in one piece.
What do they look for?
They look for cars with good performance, cars that blend in, popular models with common parts to be replaced easily.
Joy-riders: the people who steal a car just for a joy-ride… they just wanna have a little fun, and by that, ruin the lives of others. They’re comfortable with breaking a window to get in, you’ll get your car back almost all the time, but it’ll probably be damaged.
What do they look for?
These guys prefer luxurious and high-end cars. So, the higher the value of your car, the more appealing it is for a joy-rider.
Bump Robbers: these guys come in batches, it’s never one guy… what they do is get close behind you, bump into your car, and when you get out to check the damages, someone will get into it and drive away.
What do they look for?
They look for an easy catch – someone who doesn’t seem to be able to fight, driving a common car.
Now that you know who’s looking to steal it, you should know how to save it…
How to Protect Your Car from Theft
Keep it locked. Whether parked or on the road… you never know what might happen.
Never leave your car running when you’re not in it. And NEVER leave the keys inside when you get out of the car because that’s eye-candy for a car thief.
Never leave your registration and insurance in the car. In case you have to, you should leave them someplace hard to find because you don’t want someone cruising around comfortably and able to wave the papers as if the car was theirs. Having the right paperwork is also very important when you’re trying to sell your car online.
It is crucial to make sure your car is parked in a safe spot at night… Most car thieves prefer to work at night. This means you need to park your car in a lit area where people can see it –way less attractive to a car thief.
When you park your car, never leave your valuables (cell phone – jewelry – watch) where people passing by can see them from the windows.
It is important to leave your car in Park or – if you drive manual – in gear so that they won’t be able to tow it easily.
GPS! A great tool to keep track of where your car is going if it was stolen… the police, and some people use a GPS tracking device on cars to catch car thieves. You can do the same and stay safe.
You can remove the ignition fuse right after you leave the car. It’s easy… all you have to do is get under the hood or the dashboard, remove the fuse box cover, locate the ignition fuse, and remove it by hand (you can always find it in the car manual). This way, the thief won’t be able to turn the engine on unless they have a spare fuse and the time to install it (which they don’t).
You can use anti-theft systems that include: mechanisms that lock a wheel or a steering wheel in place, ignition locks that stop your car from turning on (much like removing the ignition fuse), passive alarms, and tracking systems.
Never forget, it is crucial to stay aware of everything that might happen to you during a drive and stay on alert for anything suspicious. It probably happens when you least expect it. And never get out of your car when someone bumps into it without locking it straight away.
Now you know how to keep your car safe and secure… hit the road with more knowledge. But be careful if you ever get jumped by someone, they might be dangerous, and a car can be replaced, but you can’t be.
Author: Mohamad Omary
Mohamad Omary is the Managing Director of Car Wise. Car Wise.ae is a car buying company that has established itself as the go-to partner for those who want to quickly sell their used cars in the UAE; reaching 20,000 satisfied customers with their easy car selling process and excellent customer service.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the most convenient way to sell a car in Dubai, visit CarWise.
