Car theft and robberies spike in the summer. Why? Because many vehicles are left for long hours in parking areas, restaurants, tourist attractions, and even at home for days at a time while many families go on vacation. That means, during these next few months, we all need to be a little more car-theft aware.
One of the best ways to prevent your vehicle from robbery or theft is to never leave your keys in the car; it’s like an open invitation to thieves. Seems simple enough, right? Unfortunately, thousands of Americans make this mistake every day. During the summer months, more people tend to leave their car or truck running with the air conditioning on while they make a quick stop.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports there are about 700,000 vehicle thefts each year. 60,000 of those were a result of someone leaving their car running or their key fob inside. That means someone returns to find their vehicle missing about every 41- seconds in the U.S.
Top 10 Cities for Car Theft
NICB has compiled a list of the ten areas where the most vehicles were taken in 2017:
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anchorage, AK
- Bakersfield, CA
- Pueblo, CO
- Modesto, CA
- Redding, CA
- Stockton-Lodi, CA
- Wichita, KS
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
- Saint Joseph, MO
Even if your city isn’t on this list, no one is completely immune from car theft. Crooks are always on the prowl, however, there are steps you can take to help prevent becoming a car theft victim.
Protect yourself and your property
To help prevent the growth in vehicle thefts, the NCIB offers these important tips:
- Never leave your car running to keep it cool, even if it’s for a short period of time
- Lock your vehicle, set the alarm and take all keys or FOBS
- Do not leave the garage door opener in the vehicle, and if you do try to keep it hidden
- Remove all non-essential papers with your personal information from your vehicle
- Park in well-lit areas
- Install an immobilizer and tracking system
- Make sure your car alarm is working properly
- Take all valuables with you
- Make sure your windows are completely closed when you exit your vehicle
Remember, unless you have comprehensive coverage as part of your auto insurance, you are not protected against car theft. You will be stuck paying for the replacement or the repairs to your car or truck if it is recovered.
Now is a great time to contact a California Casualty advisor to make sure you have the right auto insurance for your driving needs. Give us a call today at 1.866.704.8614 or visit www.calcas.com.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, provider of auto and home insurance for educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses.
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