5 Key Mistakes You’re Making that Lead to Stolen Cars
Your car is one of the most important things you own – if not also one of the most valuable. If it were to be stolen, your world could be turned upside down. You may not have a reliable way to get to work or to take your children to school, and you may be out thousands of dollars. You may even still be financing the car, which leaves you with a payment for a car you don’t even have anymore.
Yet as important as your car is, you may be doing things to jeopardize it. You may be putting it at risk of being stolen without even knowing it. Here are five key mistakes you might be making to increase the risk of your car being stolen:
Leave the Doors Unlocked
You may feel like your car is not a target if you don’t keep any valuables inside. However, unlocked doors just make it easier for thieves to steal your car. They can hop in, split a few wires and be on their way. You just made it easier for them by removing one more barrier: The locked door.
Many thefts are crimes of opportunity. That means that thieves go around looking for unlocked doors, either to cars or to homes. You can remove this opportunity by simply locking all the doors every time you get out of the car.
Park in a Secluded Location
Your own driveway or the street in front of your home is the perfect place to park your car.
A parking garage, side alley, or even the parking lot in a large apartment complex all attract thieves. They have their pick of cars, and they are able to do their work unnoticed and unbothered. They can work in relative secret.
If you live in apartment complex, invest in the covered garage if it’s available. Steer clear of parking garages and underground parking areas. You want your car to be parked out in the open where others can easily see if someone is lurking around it.
Keep Valuables Inside
Do you always keep your ipod hooked up to your car stereo? Or do you often leave your laptop in your car while you are in client meetings? You are making your car a target for thieves.
Many thieves aren’t out to steal your car but to steal other valuables inside. They will break a window and grab everything they can, including your stereo system or backup camera. Some will stop for the valuables and decide to leave with the car, as well. Always remove valuables from your car, and remove your radio switch plate if you can.
Leave the Car Running
We’ve all been guilty of this. While you may not ever think to leave your car running while you go inside the store, you likely have kept your car running in your driveway many times while you let it warm up on cold mornings. Who wants to get into an ice-cold car?
A running car is an open invitation to thieves. 
All they have to do is jump in the driver’s seat and drive off into the sunset with your car. Your car is not safe in your driveway, no matter how safe your neighborhood is. And even if you can see your car from where you are, you won’t be fast enough to run after someone if you see them jump inside your car. You won’t even be able to stop someone from stealing your car if you are pumping gas and have left the keys inside. Always keep your keys in your own pocket and your ignition turned off.
Keep Spare Keys in the Car
A lot of people like to keep spare keys in their car, just in case there is some kind of emergency. But leaving spare keys in your car just makes it easier for thieves to steal your car. Even if you think you have a really great hiding place that the thieves will never find – you don’t. The thieves will find them.
Leave a spare set of keys with a trusted friend or family member who can help you in a pinch if you have an emergency. You might have to wait a little longer to get on your way than you would if you had the spare keys inside your car, but you also don’t have to worry about your car being stolen, which is a much bigger inconvenience.
Don’t make your car a target for thieves anymore than it already is. Buy a model that is not known for its high theft rates, and use deterrents like alarms and kill switches. And, of course, avoid doing all the things on this list.
If you ever do get locked out of your car, call the mobile car locksmith in Queen Creek that Arizona residents trust: U.S. Key Service. We are the automotive lock and key specialists, and we provide complete mobile locksmith services, including cutting new keys in Queen Creek, fixing broken ignitions and door locks, reprogramming transponder keys and more. Whether you are locked out of your car or you need to get a replacement smart key, we can help you. Call us today in Arizona to schedule an appointment, or program our number into your phone for the next time you are locked out and need a mobile car locksmith in a hurry.
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