May 26, 2021
5 min. read
A car is stolen every six minutes on average in this country, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Vehicle theft is on the rise, but there are steps you can take to make your car a less appealing target. Here are five simple tips to keep your vehicle safe.
1. Use anti-theft devices
A good deterrent is using a steering-wheel lock—like The Club—to help prevent the steering wheel from turning. If your car has a wireless key fob, keep it in a Faraday box or pouch to block its signal, which prevents it from being hijacked. The CAA Store carries the Pacsafe silent pocket faraday car key guard, which can be purchased online or in person.
2. Park your car protectively
Parking in a well-lit area is always a good idea. If you have two cars in a driveway, park the less valuable one in such a way that it blocks in the more valuable one. If you have a garage, park your vehicle inside and lock the doors. Installing a home security camera system that covers your parking space can also help.
3. Make sure you have an immobilize
Most vehicles on the road today have what’s called an immobilizer. It’s an electronic security device that only starts the engine if the correct key is present. If your vehicle doesn’t have one, installing one will make it much harder to steal. This prevents thieves from bypassing the ignition and hot wiring a vehicle to start its engine.
4. Install a tracker
Tracking devices send a signal to the police or a monitoring service in the event your vehicle is stolen. Although a GPS tracker may not deter theft, it can be used to locate and recover a vehicle.
5. Lock your doors and windows
Never leave your vehicle running unattended and always lock the doors. Remember to close the windows and sunroof, too. Don’t leave personal information or valuables in the vehicle. And finally, keep your car keys away from the front door where they could be easily stolen.
Get more with CAA
Learn about the rise in auto theft in the summer 2021 issue of CAA Magazine. And for even more tips on how to prevent your car from being stolen, visit CAA’s resource centre.
Got insurance questions? Speak with a licensed CAA Insurance Agent to review your auto insurance policy to make sure you’re fully protected in the case of theft.
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