Car break-ins and thefts have been on the rise around Western North Carolina. Whether you’re parked on a downtown street, in a parking lot at a park, or even in your own driveway at night, thieves are on the prowl and looking for opportunities to break into your vehicle. Fortunately, you can protect your car and any belongings in it from theft by following these seven simple tips:


1. Lock your doors and windows
This seems obvious, but even if you are running into a store for one minute, be sure that you always lock your doors. It can take a thief less than 15 seconds to open a door and grab a visible laptop, cell phone, or wallet/handbag and be gone before you know what happened.

2. Hide or bring valuables with you
If you can, take all valuables in your vehicle with you. We know this is not always possible, so if you must leave valuables in your vehicle, do your best to hide them out of sight. Criminals will casually walk through parking lots and look into car windows. If they see something they like, they’ll smash a window and grab the item — known as a “smash and grab” — and quickly leave the scene. Hide items under the seat or in the trunk where they can’t be spotted.

3. Park in well-lit areas with other vehicles
When a thief breaks into a car, they want to do it quickly to avoid attracting attention. When you park in a visible location near other vehicles, the chances of someone breaking into your vehicle decreases. The last thing a thief wants to do is draw attention to him or herself. If you park and you find people loitering near your car or you do not feel safe for any reason, go with your gut and move to a place where you feel more safe — not just for the protection of your vehicle, but for your own.

4. Get a professionally installed security system
Vehicle security systems have come a long way. You can even receive notifications on your phone if your vehicle has been broken into. When you do install a security system, be sure to make it known by displaying alarm stickers on your vehicle, as this can deter a would-be thief.

5. Install a GPS Tracker
Some thieves are not out to just grab a wallet or phone — they’re out to steal your car. Sometimes you do all you can to prevent a break-in, and it’s still not enough. By installing a GPS Tracker, you can know the location of your vehicle and provide this to the police who can use the information to recover your vehicle before it is too late. This will save you a lot of time and trouble.

6. Install exterior cameras
Many break-ins around Western NC and other areas of the country are occurring while you’re at home, and you believe your vehicle is parked safely in your driveway. Be sure to install exterior cameras that can catch a criminal in the act. If a thief sees a camera, it will often deter him or her from committing a crime. But if they do, an exterior camera can help authorities identify the thief. Often, thieves will break into numerous vehicles in the same neighborhood — an exterior camera can aid both you and your neighbors in retrieving your belongings.

7. Don’t hide a key
While it may be convenient not to carry keys while you’re on a hike or out and about, thieves are savvy to this — they know the most common places people hide keys and will look in those places before smashing a window. Don’t make it even easier for them!