Preventing Vehicle Theft

Vehicle theft is one of the most traumatic experiences you can face, but there are ways to prevent you from being a victim of this crime. Some key steps you can take to protect yourself are:

	Lock your vehicle doors, and any additional car theft prevention locks if you are leaving your car for a period of time. Never leave the vehicle keys inside the vehicle unattended. Never leave your vehicle's engine running, even if you will only be away for a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, petrol stations, ATMs and outside house compounds when owners leave the vehicle engine running to run errands or to unlock house gates. Ensure your vehicle windows are properly closed up. Check all the doors are locked. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. However, if you have to, place valuables out of sight in the boot. Ensure that no one sees you placing valuables in the boot.

	Park in well-lit areas - vehicle theft usually occurs at night under the cover of darkness. Park in attended lots - vehicle thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots. Park your vehicle in the compound of your house rather than outside. Lock both your vehicle and the gate for improved security.

	Professional thieves are able to steal any vehicle. However, you can make it difficult for them to steal your vehicle. The more layers of protection on your vehicle, the more difficult it is to steal. Your budget and personal preferences should determine how many layers of protection and which anti-theft devices are best for you.
	Generally available anti-theft devices are:
	Engine immobilizers Better door and ignition locks Security patterned or coded keys Radio/CD players with security code or removable face plates Window etching Car alarms Steering wheel / gear / brake pedal locks Tracking devices