Location, Location, Location

The mantra of “location, location, location” is common to the
real estate industry. The location of a piece of real property
determines, in large measure, its value. Location is also
important when it comes to car theft. One should take steps to
avoid leaving their sports car unattended in locations where a
theft is more likely.

For instance, one should strive to use secured parking areas.
Monitored lots and garages deter car thieves. If a monitored
parking area is unavailable, it is wise to seek out parking
locations that are well lit and clearly visible to others.
Privacy is the thief’s best friend, so parking in that remote
nook or cranny increases the risk of wrongdoing.

Key Control

Although it is extremely simple and intuitive, taking your keys
with you when you exit the car is the best way to reduce theft
risk. One should take their keys with them whenever they are
leaving the car–even if it is only for a quick run in and out
of somewhere where the car remains in your sight.

Most car thefts are, in large measure, crimes of opportunity. To
a potential thief, nothing screams opportunity like dangling
keys in the ignition. Don’t tempt the sports car thief; take
your keys with you.

A corollary to this hint is the reminder that one should never
leave their car running, even on the iciest of days. You may
relish returning to a toasty car from your quick errand, but a
few seconds of chilliness is surely worth suffering through if
the alternative is a stolen vehicle.

Hide the Goodies

Having your entire car stolen and driven away is the ultimate
car theft nightmare. Having valuable objects taken from within
the car runs a close second. In some cases, a thief’s desire to
nab your awesome sound system may even inspire him to “borrow”
the car until he can get it to a quiet place to perform the
stereo removal. In other cases, sports car owners can suffer
from broken windows or damaged locks when a thief has entered a
car in search of a visible valuable item.

When exiting your car, do a quick scan for any items that may
hold an attraction for a thief and get those items out of plain
view. Trinkets as trivial as a cheap watch or a few CDs may
attract the attention of break-in artists, so don’t assume what
is of little value to you will be uninteresting for a thief.

It’s a good idea to purchase stereos with removable front plates
or that are otherwise disguisable so as not to encourage theft.
It’s also been found that one can reduce the likelihood of
break-ins by making the interior a little less visible. For some
sports cars, tinted windows may be both a great look and a theft
deterrent. A simple fold-up sunscreen can protect your car from
both harmful ultraviolet rays and prying eyes.

Present Small Challenges

Car thieves work fast because their “career” requires it. The
longer a thief has to wrangle with a vehicle, the more likely he
is to bail out of his mission. If a thief can ascertain quickly
that a job will take more than a few minutes, he is likely to
pass on by. As such, it is a great idea to take small measures
that will make theft less convenient.

If you have the opportunity to parallel park between two other
cars, take it. By making your car less capable of a quick
getaway, you reduce the risk of theft. Additionally, being in
the proximity of others will make the act of stealing your
sports care more visible, which is very unattractive to thieves.

Small internal adjustments can also be a nice additional
deterrent. If you have tilt steering, you may want to set the
wheel at its lowest point, making quick access to the driver’s
seat more difficult. Setting the parking brake can and turning
wheels toward the curb in a street-parking situation can also
help. Some people have gone so far as to pull their seatbelt
over the steering wheel after parking, hoping the time required
to access the driver’s seat will be lengthened enough to turn a
thief off.

Use of items such as “the Club” can also help. Even if these
locking mechanisms are not foolproof, they do add to the time
required to steal a sports car. A potential thief, who needs to
finish the act quickly and quietly, may see something as simple
as a wheel lock as just enough of a time-water to dissuade him
from attacking your sports car.

Alarms do Work

There is a growing belief that car alarms have become so
commonplace that they are no longer effective. How many people
even look in the direction of an alarm these days? It is true
that car alarms no longer possess the novelty value they once
had, but they still can act as a deterrent to car theft.

Thieves do not want any attention called to their activities.
Although many of us ignore the beeps and sirens of alarms, many
people will still look when they hear an alarm. Even if an
alarm’s effectiveness is less than 100%, it increases the
attention drawn to the act of car theft, and that can be enough
to discourage break-in. Additionally, disarming the alarm will
take time, and as we have noted, speed is key to the sports car
thief. Car alarm installation is still a best bet for sports car
protection.

You can never guarantee your sports car will remain safely in
your possession at all times. A gorgeous sports car can seem
almost irresistible to a thief, after all. Remembering these
five pointers, however, can minimize the risk of theft
significantly.

Author: Gregg Hall
Source: articleage.com