There are several areas of concern when we talk about keeping your vehicle safe and secure. The most important concept to remember, is to take away the “opportunity” for a criminal to target you and your vehicle.
If you normally park your vehicle on a public street, private driveway or parking lot that requires it sit out in the open, always, always lock it. A large percentage of the reported stolen vehicles in Sioux Falls were unlocked and had the keys either in the ignition, or someplace in the passenger compartment (ashtray, under the floor mat, etc). This problem is especially true during the cold season months when we want to warm the vehicle up before driving it. It’s also a good idea to lock your vehicle even when it’s in a garage or what you might consider a protected area.
Along with making sure your vehicle is locked, don’t leave valuables, in plain view, in the passenger compartment. Radar detectors, car stereos and speakers, compact disc or cassette tape carrying cases, sports equipment, clothing, anything of value left in the vehicle is going to provide a temptation that some criminals can’t resist, locked vehicle or not.
Although there’s no guarantee that you and your vehicle won’t become the victim of a crime, taking the necessary steps to decrease the “opportunity” for crime is the first step in a solid safety plan.
