Did you know? In 2017, there were 42,592 car thefts reported Australia-wide, with Victoria representing almost a quarter of them.
And we haven’t even gotten started on smash-and-grabs either – according to police, these account for 1-in-8 reported crimes in Victoria!
These stats are alarming, to say the least. You might feel that there’s not much you can do to protect your car – you can’t watch it 24/7, after all.
However, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. There are plenty of things you can do to prevent something like this from happening in the first place.
So, what security measures can you take against would-be thieves to protect your car?
1) Choose a secure parking spot
Choosing a safe parking space is a must for car owners.
At home, make sure that your car is in an enclosed parking space – behind a gate or in a garage with strong locks are ideal candidates. Consider installing
CCTV cameras to track who comes and goes at your property.
Of course, not all of us are lucky enough to have private garages.
If you have no choice but to park on the street, try to choose an area that is well lit, with plenty of other cars and people around. Avoid dark streets
with limited visibility – these are a car thief’s playground and present huge danger zones for car owners like yourself.
2) Don’t make yourself a target – keep your valuables on you all the time
It’s a message you’ll see repeated everywhere: car parks, police bulletins, neighbourhood watch fliers… we’re not the first people to mention it.
That said, that doesn’t make this tip any less valuable.
The best way to avoid returning to find out your windows smashed, and gadgets gone after only a few minutes away? Don’t give thieves anything to steal
to begin with!
GPS devices, smartphones, laptops… even loose change! These rewards attract would-be thieves, so ensure these are always removed from your car when you
leave.
3) Don’t be alarmed – think about car security
If your car didn’t come with an alarm, talk to a mechanic about getting an aftermarket one installed.
Not only does it give you a warning of foul play, but it’s also a powerful deterrent for potential thieves.
Obviously, car thieves don’t like advertising what they’re doing – they’ll naturally try to keep a low profile, and a loud, wailing car alarm is not a
part of their process!
Another option is to install an engine immobiliser. This stops your engine from starting unless the correct transponder key is inserted into the ignition.
4) Get a car tracker
Car trackers aren’t just a prop in detective movies – they’re also an option that you can invest in to keep your car safe.
Trackers enable you to track your car in the event that all else fails for easy recovery. Think of it as the ultimate car insurance policy!
5) Keep your eyes on your keys
And of course, you’ll want to keep an eye on your keys at all times!
Lost car keys are the easiest way to steal a car and can easily render all of these other security tips useless. Never leave your keys in the ignition
and be mindful of where you’ve put them at all times.
If you’ve bought your car second-hand, we recommend having your auto keys reprogrammed – who knows whether its previous owner made any spares.
And if you have spares of your own, don’t leave them somewhere obvious like under the sun visor.
If you’re stranded without your keys however, then chances are you aren’t thinking about getting your locks rekeyed. No, you’re more worried about how
you’re going to get home.
- Have you locked your keys in the car?
- Do you need of a transponder key programmed?
- Has your key broken inside your ignition?
- Does your damaged key need to be replaced?
If you need car key replacement for any reason, get on the phone with a Melbourne auto locksmith. They’ll help get you out of each of these sticky situations
and help you get home too.
Need car key replacement?
Call Galmier Locksmiths whenever you need an auto locksmith in Melbourne!
Stranded? You’re in good hands with Galmier Locksmiths.
With 13 years under the Galmier name and even more years in locksmithing, you can trust us to get back on the road, no matter model of car you drive, including:
- Toyota
- Honda
- Mazda
- Ford
- Holden
- Nissan
- Hyundai
- Kia
Contact Alex on 0407 022 234, and most importantly, save our number in your phone – you never know when you might need car
key replacement!
