Tips to Help Prevent Car Theft in Atlanta
In the United States alone, it’s estimated that a car is stolen every 43 seconds. Over the course of a year that ever-growing count reaches close to a million cases of car theft nationwide. This year Atlanta has seen a substantial increase in stolen cars, prompting citizens and guests to take special precautions. Here are our top three most important tips to follow to make sure you’re not the next victim in line.
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1. Choose Your Parking Spot Wisely
The brunt of the work behind deterring vehicle theft is in making yourself a less enticing victim. Desolate parking garages and dark lots are five-star venues for car thieves. If you can, we recommend parking your car in a well-lit and relatively high-traffic area. While you’re at it, be sure to hide any valuables you may have left in plain view. You may not think your old TomTom would warrant a broken window, but you’d be surprised.
2. Make Locking Up a Habit
You already know it’s important to lock up, but it’s equally as important that you’re consistent in your efforts. When leaving your vehicle unattended for ANY length of time, you should: (1) make sure all windows and other glass panels are sealed shut and (2) take your keys with you and lock the doors.
Why: Car theft is a crime of opportunity, and some golden opportunities can unfold in a matter of seconds. In fact, reported car thefts leapt 95% citywide last spring when the coronavirus outbreak forced Atlanta restaurants to open for take-out only. The reason? Car thieves were taking advantage of the influx of citizens leaving their cars unattended to pick up food. The story serves as proof that brazen criminals will capitalize on any opportunity you give them.
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3. Invest in Anti-Theft Devices
In truth, vigilant door locking is no end-all to auto theft issues. There’s a myriad of methods thieves use to get what they want. If you’re here looking for a way to put your mind at ease, we highly recommend investing in an anti-theft device. Using a steering wheel lock or a brake pedal lock tells the thief that this job is a lost cause right off the bat. You can expect an anti-theft device to run you somewhere in the range of $20 to $60 depending on the kind and quality.
