Tips from Used Car Advisor

Car Advisor Tamotsu Todoroki

Hi, this is Tamotsu Todoroki. I am a car advisor of PicknBuy24.com.
I write an online column every week to take care of your vehicle. My column is all about something useful and practical for your vehicle. Please have a look once to keep your car in good condition.

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How to Protect Your Car from Thieves - Vol.415

Owning a car can be a joy and it also can be a necessity. Either way, car thieves are constantly upping the game, as they follow all the trends in car alarms and security systems.

Any car can be interesting to a thief, so there really are no rules. Sometimes they will go for an expensive luxury vehicle for obvious reasons, while in other situations they will steal a cheap car so they can resell it or use for spare parts.

Luckily enough, there are plenty of ways you can sleep tight at night without worrying about your car and constantly peeking through the window to check if it's still there.

Tips and Tricks
There are a lot of things that you can do to prevent your car from being stolen. We will suggest just a few which should keep thieves at bay, or at least make it harder for them to take your car away.

Don't ever forget your keys in the car. Did you know that 13 percent of all stolen vehicles still had keys in them?

Never keep a spare key in your car, as thieves usually know all the hiding places.

Always lock your car. It's a devastating fact that half the stolen vehicles were simply unlocked and too easy to grab.

Did you ever leave your car unattended with the engine running? Thieves won't mind this.

When you park, always try to park in well-lit parking lots or public places. The more witnesses around, the harder it will be to steal a car.

Never leave any valuable objects in the car, especially if they are in plain view. These are a magnet for thieves.

Always make sure that you've closed all the windows completely.

If you want to step it up, you can also choose from a vast array of anti-theft devices available on the market. Immobilizers can be mechanical or electronic, so let's take a quick look at how these work and what type of security they provide.

Mechanical Immobilizers
If you don't want to break the bank by investing in the most expensive and sophisticated anti-theft system out there, you can rely on some of the mechanical immobilizers, as those are commonly not too pricey.

They are designed to restrict movement or access to a vehicle. They really stand out, so they should make a thief lose interest in your car.

One of the most popular mechanical immobilizers is the steering wheel lock. It goes over the steering wheel, so it's impossible to steer with it in place. And it's way too sturdy to be taken off by force.

Hood lock is another good option as it cuts off access to the battery. Tire locks usually will take the car owner a bit of time to attach and remove, but they are yet another great option.

Finally, drivers can also use brake pedal locks and gear shifter locks to keep potential thieves at bay.

Electronic Immobilizers
If you own an expensive car or you simply want to invest more in your car security, you should definitely opt for an electronic device. Some modern cars have standard electronic immobilizers, but if that's not the case with your car, you can get it installed.

An anti-theft device called kill switch is another popular option among drivers everywhere around the globe. It shuts down the engine's electrical ignition system and makes it impossible to start the car without switching it on through a series of little tasks.

Car alarms are the most effective security systems, but as the price varies so will the accompanying features.

Conclusion
The few easy tips we've included here will help keep thieves at bay, but we strongly suggest investing in a mechanical or electronic immobilizer to bring your car's security to an even higher level.