As indicated in the most recent Delta Crime stats, Auto theft has touched out little area of paradise as two neighbours recently had their vehicles stolen. There are several steps that you can take to prevent your vehicle from being stolen. In this months home security tip we will discuss some of the most effective ways to keep your car safe from theft.
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Always lock your doors and windows: This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many people forget to lock their car doors. Always double-check your car is locked before you leave it, even if you are just stepping away for a few minutes. Many Police departments are also encouraging a 9PM check, where people are encouraged to check to see if their vehicle and house doors are secured.
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Use an anti-theft device: There are a variety of anti-theft devices available on the market, including steering wheel locks, kill switches, and alarms. These devices make it much more difficult for a thief to steal your car and also act as an effective deterrent.
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Park in well-lit areas: Park your vehicle in a well-lit area, especially at night. This makes it more difficult for a thief to approach your vehicle undetected and makes it easier for witnesses and cameras to see if something suspicious is happening.
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Keep valuables out of sight: Do not leave valuable items, such as your purse, wallet, or GPS device, in plain sight in your vehicle. This can be a major temptation for a thief and could make your car a target.
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While not directly related to vehicle theft, if you do park your vehicle outdoors, ensure your keys and overhead door remote are NOT left in the vehicle.
The good news, if there is a silver lining to the stress and inconvenience of having your vehicle stolen, most of these stolen vehicles end up abandoned in neighbouring communities. This could even be on your street. If you see a strange vehicle which looks to be abandoned, contact your local Police Non-emergency number. It is important to not open the door, even if it is unlocked. If you see a stolen vehicle occupied by the thief, do NOT approach and call 911 immediately.
If your vehicle is stolen it is a good idea to post the information online. As I mentioned, I run BC CrimeWatch on Facebook. After contacting the police post the information (Picture, make model, license plate and police File number) on your personal Facebook page and make the post public. Then send me the link. If you do not feel comfortable posting something like this publicly, or you are not on Facebook, just send me a message with the above information and I can take care of it. All I ask is once the vehicle is found, please do NOT delete the post; UPDATE it. This will follow all the shares.
An important thing to know, when posting stolen vehicles on Facebook, while the recovery rate is high, you WILL be contacted by scammers who will claim they or someone they know can find your vehicle through some “ethical hacking” I see these comments all the time and these scammers are constantly trying to join the various crime watch groups I run. I suspect many of these are Bots which crawl Social Media for certain keywords. They generally encourage you to contact someone on Instagram or some other social media profile. Do NOT engage with these profiles, simply report the comments to Facebook as well as the admin of whatever group you see them on.
Finally, when your vehicle is recovered, do NOT touch or enter your vehicle until it has been cleared by the police. While this may seem like a frustrating delay, there have been instances where explosives and or firearms have been found in these vehicles. I remember one such incident reported by the Delta Police
Content from KeepSafeSystems.ca - Used with permission