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Protect Your Car From Thieves

The cases of stolen cars have been increasing at alarming rate. Due to tight economic situation, people are losing their lively-hood by losing jobs, and going bankrupt in business. Therefore, crime rate is going up and is not expected till the economy turn around and provide means to earn a living. It is important that vehicle owners safe guard their assets aggressively.

A recent event during a night happened to me that should have deprived me of my brand new Toyota Innova. It seems the car thieves have been keeping tab on our movements for quite some time. Indeed, the modus operandi of thieves is the target a certain car and keeps a watch on it for some days or weeks before they get into their act. The obvious fact is that they had opened the front gate lock without much effort. In other words, they had even observed what kind of lock I had used to lock the front gate. In fact, we do not have the garage and park our car in front of our house and off course, within the compound. Many people park their cars out side their homes due to non availability of garage.

Apparently, car thieves had stuck at our house around 2 AM! Many people are fast asleep and people rarely are on the street. We live in a residential area and the people movement becomes sparse after 12AM till 3AM. Mostly people return home late till 1AM and other early birds start preparing by waking up at 4AM. The time in between is very ripe for thieves to get and run off with their booty. Two people had broke into our compound by opening the gate lock and one of them could successfully disabled the car alarm by cutting wires by reaching from below the car. It seems the people involved here are expert mechanic(s) and they knew what they were doing. Luckily, our car had another horn hidden beyond for anyone to access without opening the bonnet. When thieves thought they had quietly disabled the horn, and they tried to open the car lock, apparently, by using a duplicate key, the second hidden horn beeped twice loudly as if the car lock was to open. This unexpected event startled thieves and forced them to take to their heels. Our car was saved to live another day.

When our thieves were thick in their action, the early bird rag picker got suspicious of the persons who were in our compound and saw a car parked near our house in the shadows and another person was inside. It was obvious that the person inside the car was ready to whisk away his partners in crime if anybody spotted them. In fact, we had a security guard patrol our street and couple of streets in our area. Unfortunately, the security guard failed to notice the thieves and got to know only when the rag picker told him about the people in my compound/fence. By the time security guard reached our home, thieves had got wind of their grave situation and fled the scene. The wide open gate welcomed the security guard when he arrived at the "crime scene!" The hapless security guard was speechless; thieves could have gotten away with the car right under the nose of the security guard had the alarm not went off.

Indeed, when the car horn beeped twice around 2AM, my wife woke me up from my slumber and asked me to check out our car. I casually peeked out from the front window and saw none. I returned and told my wife about no one being seen outside and we thought the car alarm might have been set off by a cat. We did not know about the incident till the security guard woke us up at 3.30AM and reported. We were shocked. Our casual approach to our car's security would have cost us the car.

I cannot imagine and no way accept that someone stealing my car. I have an emotional attachment with my car. If someone steals my car, it is like I have lost something very important in my life. My car has very important place and role in my day-to-day life.

Many of known people have lost their cars and motor bikes, they were all shocked and traumatized and scar has never left them ever since they lost their vehicles. From what I have heard from people, more often than not, the car once stolen is mostly never found. There are set of groups who are specialized in dismantling the stolen cars and distribute the parts in the second's market, or transport the stolen car to far off place and change the number plate to sell it at very handsome profits. The stealing a car is very much an organized crime and any car or bike owner can succumb to it.

It can happen to anyone, anytime. It is in our interest to secure our lives during these tough times. If you own a car or bike, remember, a little precaution can save you lot of headache.

What we did to save our vehicle from thieves:

Once we realized we were lucky due to unsuccessful attempt to steal our car, we took the incident seriously.

First and foremost was to ensure safety of our car, second, to tighten the security around our home, and lastly, improve the security around our locality as preventative measure.

How to improve the security of the car:

1) Make sure that the car alarm is always active and get it repaired moment you see it not functioning. Every night before you retire, check the car is locked and security alarm is active. For older models, thieves have found a way to get around the alarm system, make sure that the alarm system is placed beyond the reach from below your vehicle. Talk to your mechanic to see the alarm is tamper proof.

2) Use the steering lock and position the longest part to face to the wind shield. This will delay the thieves for few precious minutes and discourage them from breaking the lock. This will create a physical warning and discourage the scheming thief from even attempting. This is good measure that works well even you park the car in the public places either in day or night.

How to create security around the car during dark

1) Do not Position the car near to the fence or compound to block the view of the gate, so that you have a clear view of the gate in the night.

2) Use hardened chain locks to lock the gate

3) Car parking area should be well lit during nights. Cars parked in dark are prime and easy target.

How to improve security in the locality

1) Talk to the local representative or the leader and bring the security issues to her/him

2) Make the municipal office to fix and improve the lighting systems in the street. Dark streets invite thieves!

3) If possible, get the municipal office setup barricade during night in the main entrance and exits of your locality that can be manned in the night

4) Talk to your neighbors and make them aware of the risks and encourage them to do what you have done to safe guard your vehicle (as in point 1 and 2)

Other personal measures to prepare for the unexpected situation:

Do not take the car thieves lightly. They are prepared for the worst and they are increasingly becoming violent. They may even carry firearms!  So be careful when you notice someone or some people are trying to steal your car. Do not open the front door and immediately rise alarm by shouting loudly to alert your neighbors and foil thieves' attempt. Call the local security guard on his cell phone. So do not forget to carry the emergency number(s) with you in case you need it most.

If anyone save our loved and well looked after cars from being stolen, it is only we the car owners. Nobody else can replace you in saving your car. Even police force has its own limits. So better be prepared when thieves strike you when you least expect them!

About the Author

Editor of Health, Happiness,and Relationship Magazine. The Magazine covers topics on career, business, health, family, children, and relationship.

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