Practical Ways to Avoid Car Break-ins
Auto burglary is on the rise. Here’s how to prevent it from happening to you.
Car break-ins are all too common across the West. The crime is especially prominent in California, which saw 243,000 thefts from automobiles in 2018, more than any other state in the country. Though the problem has since leveled off or lessened in some California cities, hot spots remain. In March of this year, 1,040 vehicle break-ins were reported in San Francisco. That’s roughly 33 incidents per day.
Car break-ins can take place almost anywhere, anytime, in a matter of seconds; there’s a reason they’re known as ‘smash-and-grabs.’ That makes them difficult to stop. But there are steps you can take towards prevention. Here are tips for making your car a less tempting target, along with guidance on what to do if you become a victim of the crime.
Lock your doors.
Rolling up your windows and pressing the lock button are fundamental steps in crime deterrence. “Unlocked car doors are too easy to pass up for a car burglar,” says Sgt. Christian Camarillo of the San Jose Police Department, adding that you should always double-check your doors after you park.
While it might seem like leaving them unlocked could minimize the cost of smash-and-grabs, you may be inviting thieves to riffle through your glove compartment and trunk, steal or damage internal components, or drive off with your vehicle.
Leave nothing, lose nothing.
A cell phone charger. A pair of cheap sunglasses. An empty grocery bag. Leave nothing loose or visible in your car. Even if the items are of relatively little value to you, they could be a temptation for a thief, according to the San Francisco Police Department. What’s more, that thief might see those items as an indication that you have possessions of greater value hidden elsewhere in your car.
Never leave items in sight, and always take valuables with you. The SFPD recommends that travelers drop their luggage, jewelry, and other valuables, including passports and important documents, at their hotel instead of keeping them in their car.
Garage door openers are another item to be aware of. They’re easy to forget about, but thieves are on the lookout for them, according to the San Jose Police Department, so never leave them in your car.
If you must leave behind any electronics, turn off their Bluetooth before tucking them away in the trunk. Burglars can use a Bluetooth scanner to see what’s inside your vehicle and make off with your computer, tablet, or other gadget.
Stow away items in your trunk or somewhere else completely out of sight before you arrive at your destination.
Assume that thieves are watching.
If you have no choice but to keep some items in your trunk, stash them there before you arrive at your destination so that no one sees what you’ve tucked away. Another simple deterrent is to lock the trunk release lever in your car after you park to prevent a thief from using the lever to access your trunk.
Pick your spots.
Smash-and-grabs can happen almost anywhere, anytime. But certain locations can leave you more vulnerable to the crime than others. Try to park in busy, well-lit areas, rather than under overpasses or shady trees. The more visible your car is to the public, the harder it is for a thief to carry out a crime discreetly.
Report the crime.
Just as car break-ins are difficult to stop, the perpetrators can be hard to apprehend. But local police departments are doing their best, and they need your help to prevent these crimes. Call 9-1-1 if you see a break-in happening, and provide your location and a description of the suspect, if possible.
If your car is broken into, call your local police department's non-emergency number or file a report online, if available. In your report, include an estimated value of the stolen items as well as the serial numbers of any stolen electronics. Cancel stolen credit cards as soon as you can. Keep a copy of your police report—you may need it for your insurance claim.
Get insured.
Being a victim of a smash-and-grab car break-in is a logistical headache. It’s also a financial expense. It typically costs between $200 and $450 to repair a shattered car window.
Even if you drive an old car that doesn’t warrant expensive collision insurance, San Francisco-based AAA insurance agent Susan Ferrell recommends that you consider getting comprehensive coverage, which protects against damage to your vehicle, including broken windows. AAA offers a range of coverage for auto glass, starting with a zero-deductible policy that can be as low as $28 annually. If your window is shattered in a break-in, you pay nothing out of pocket.