According to the Canadian Finance and Leasing Association (CFLA) 2023 report, a vehicle is stolen every six minutes in Canada. Because of the low-risk and high-reward opportunities, car theft is an organized crime that is growing year by year. Even if you have the most technologically advanced car, no one is immune to auto theft. This has Canadians worried about the security of their vehicles. So, how can you prevent car theft?
Protecting your vehicle from intruders and installing devices to strengthen its security is a wise investment for your valuable asset. From anti-theft devices and remote starters to other proven car theft prevention tips, you can prevent your vehicle from being an easy target. Take a look at our car security tips to ensure your vehicle is secure at all times.
Understanding the Motivation of Car Thieves
We Canadians know how common car theft is. Be it because of a lenient legal outcome or a vehicle’s poor security standard, it gives car thieves the motivation to earn easy money or getaway vehicles. From identifying easy targets to breaking security measures, car thieves are hunting for their next target. But what attracts them to robbing cars, and what could be their mindset for doing so? Let’s analyze the motivation of car thieves to best protect you from being their next victim.
Opportunistic Mindset
When thieves see a car’s engine left running while unattended or keys on the door, they are tempted to rob the car without any struggle. The ease with which they can escape the car compels them to grab the opportunity.
[H3] Financial Desperation
People in financial shortage might steal and sell vehicles or their high-value parts as a quick way to make money.
Thrill-Seeking Behavior
Adrenaline-seeking people with twisted mindsets can get a sense of rush and excitement they get when stealing a car. Fear mixed with excitement might lead them to engage in this crime just for the thrill of it.
Tech-Savvy Experts
Tech-savvy people get a boost of self-esteem or high self-esteem by breaking into complex vehicle security systems. Thus, they hack or bypass advanced vehicle security to test their skills and rob the vehicle relatively easily.
How to Prevent Car Theft?
Whether your car is just a means of transportation or you’re a car fanatic riding the latest model, the money you spend purchasing it is a lot. You definitely wouldn’t want it to be damaged, let alone for it to disappear. We bring you some of the most effective car security tips every vehicle owner must know and implement.
Keep an Eye on the Theft Trends
Vehicle theft isn’t a one-off incident in Canada. It has been happening for years with no signs of it even stopping. So, to protect yourself and your vehicle from it, stay informed about vehicle theft incidents within your locality and surrounding areas. Follow the local news, community forums, police updates, and other platforms to learn about the car theft activities and tactics of the thieves in your locality. By keeping yourself informed, you understand their patterns and techniques and adjust your preventive measures accordingly.
Park in Safe Areas
Whether parking in your home, at malls, or anywhere else, always park your vehicle in designated parking areas and indoors in the garage. Opt for parking places that are well-lit, under surveillance, and have heavy traffic to deter thieves from attempting to break into your car because of the fear of being seen.
Install Anti-Theft Device
An intelligent choice vehicle owners can install anti-theft devices that guarantee the security of their car from thieves. Anti-theft devices protect your vehicle against unauthorized access, blocking thieves from riding away in your car. IGLA, an anti-theft device, is a prime example of the best device you can install in your vehicle. Its innovative door-locking technology integrates into the existing wire of your vehicle, making it impossible for car robbers to bypass the system.
Install Dash Cam
Dash cams are a smart addition to your vehicle security that’s installed on your dashboard. They record footage of your front and rear surroundings. From useful during accidents to using them in car theft cases, they record and provide the evidence to identify the car thief. Our high-definition motion sensor dash camera provides surveillance coverage of your vehicle that helps speed up the process of finding the perpetrator and vehicle quicker.
Get a Remote Starter
Most of us forget whether we’ve locked the car doors after parking it, and then the panic sets in. Remote starters give you the peace of mind of locking your car from a distance. Also, we leave our car unattended, leaving the engine to warm up in the winter. During such circumstances, when our car doors are unlocked, it’s easy for robbers to access them. By getting a remote starter you can start your engine from a distance while the doors are locked without leaving it unattended, reducing the temptation for thieves. Advanced models also come with alarm systems that can be activated remotely, deterring potential thieves further.
Ensure Valuables Are Out of Sight
Leaving your phone, wallet, or other valuables in your car while visible from the outside is deemed to attract thieves. It’s best not to leave any high-value stuff in your vehicle when you’ve left it unattended, or at least keep it in hidden spots so that it doesn’t lure thieves. Consider tinting your windows to block people from the outside eyeing to see what items are in your car.
Install a Vehicle Immobilizer System
The car thieves have upped their skills to disarm security measures that have been popular for a long time. Vehicle immobilizer systems stop unauthorized vehicle or equipment movement when a robber attempts to break into your car. The device disables engine operating circuits or vital engine control units so that a thief cannot run off with it.
Install a Tracking System
Hooking your vehicle up to a GPS tracking system will help you conveniently track the real-time location of your device. Whether looking for where you’ve parked your car or trying to recover it faster when stolen, wireless and GPS technology makes monitoring your vehicle’s location much easier.
What to Do if Your Car Is Stolen?
Even when you’ve deployed all the preventive steps, chances are you might not find your vehicle in the place where you’ve parked it. Not seeing your vehicle in the spot where you’ve left it will make your heart start racing. Chances are your vehicle might have been towed; if not- yes, you’ve been robbed. In that case, ring the police authorities immediately and file a vehicle theft report to start recovering your vehicle immediately. Inform the authorities about the make, model, color, year your vehicle was manufactured and license plate number. Providing them with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or GPS system access can make tracking easier and more efficient. Also, report the car theft to your insurance company as well.
A cautionary step is to avoid leaving your original documents- license, vehicle registration paper, etc.- in your car so that thieves don’t have access to your valuable documents.
Conclusion:
Unfortunately, vehicle theft in Canada isn’t a one-off incident- it happens regularly. Once your car is stolen, running to the police station and getting insurance claims after your car is stolen is a stressful, time-consuming and painful process. The best way to protect yourself from this hassle is to take strong preventive measures and integrate devices to protect your vehicle from robbery attempts. Installing anti-theft devices in your vehicle gives you the surety that your vehicle is protected at all times. Contact us, and our professionals will guide you through selecting and installing the most effective anti-theft devices tailored to your vehicle’s needs. Don’t wait until it’s too late – protect your vehicle today.
