Tips For Reducing Vehicle Thefts

Article Presented By Tomlinson Insurance

(NHTSA) – Summers prove to be the worst season for vehicle theft. So, to help drivers keep their vehicles safe, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is continuing its annual Vehicle Theft Prevention Campaign during July — National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month.

2020, more than three-quarters of a million vehicles were stolen in the United States—and about half of those thefts were due to driver error. Vehicle theft is a multi-billion-dollar crime, costing vehicle owners more than $7 billion in 2020 alone. Passenger cars made up more than 74% of all stolen motor vehicles.

A motor vehicle was stolen every 39 seconds in the United States in 2020. 

Use common sense when parking and exiting your vehicle:

• Take your vehicle’s key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
• Park in well-lit areas if possible.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.

Thieves want vehicle parts and valuable items, too.

Radios and wheel covers aren’t the only popular stolen vehicle parts thieves take. They want whatever sells, from the mandated labeled parts to those that aren’t. Some of the most popular vehicle parts or valuable items stolen from vehicles include doors, engines, transmissions, air bags, radios, GPS units, cell phones, iPads, laptops, and purses.