Your car is one of the greatest investments you can make, so it’s understandable that you’d want to protect your vehicle as best you can. But the unfortunate thing is that there are plenty of things that can threaten your car: there is severe weather to worry about, accidents to avoid, and perhaps worst of all, there are car thieves.
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are stolen every year, meaning that there is always a heavy risk that your car could be next. However, there are a handful of factors that make your car more likely to be stolen. Things such as your vehicle’s make and model, year, and location can all impact how likely it is to be stolen.
Thankfully, there are simple preventative measures you can take to keep your car safe, such as staying up-to-date with your garage door repair.
What Cars Are Most At Risk of Being Stolen?
When you think of cars that are likely to be stolen, you might think of vehicles from high-end manufacturers like Mercedes or Ferrari. But recent data suggests that that’s not the case. Every year, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports the statistics about the most stolen vehicles in the country. They identify a number of firm trends that determine which kinds of cars are most likely to be stolen.
According to their most recent report, here are the top 10 most stolen cars in the United States:
- Honda Civic
- Honda Accord
- Ford Pickup
- Chevy Pickup
- Toyota Camry
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota Corolla
- GMC Pickup
- Dodge/Ram Pickup
- Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
This report shows that it’s not just “fancy” cars that are most likely to be stolen. Instead, cars from all levels of quality can be targets for theft.
There are some common trends between all these stolen vehicles. 60% of the top ten most stolen cars were produced in the late 90s and early 2000s, suggesting that older cars are more likely to be stolen than newer models. One reason for this is because some cars are stolen to be quickly disassembled, so each piece can be sold individually in chop shops.
Older cars are a major target for this because they are more popular, which makes them easy to resell. And perhaps unsurprisingly, the study also found that vehicles were more likely to be stolen if they were left with their doors unlocked or insecure.
What Can You Do To Protect Your Car?
Car thieves target vehicles of all makes and models, so how can you protect yours? In large part, keeping your car safe is simply a matter of common sense. Make sure it is secure at all times: the less secure your car is, the easier it is to be stolen.
Keeping this in mind, there are a few easy ways you can make it difficult for thieves to take your car. Always lock your doors when you park your car; take your keys out of the ignition, and never leave your windows open while your car is unattended.
Whenever possible, you should park in a covered, well-lit area. Darkness makes it easy for thieves to take your vehicle unnoticed, so if you have to park outdoors, make sure you always leave your car in bright surroundings.
Easily, the best way to protect your car from thieves is to store it in an updated garage. If your car is outdoors, it is out in the open and free for any vandal to try and steal. But if you keep your car in a modern, well-maintained garage, you can shield it from many prospective thieves. Better yet, a garage can keep your vehicle safe from other hazards. If your car is parked on the street, it’s exposed to wind, rain, and varying temperatures, but in a garage, it can stay clean and protected.
Of course, you should make sure your garage is always in good condition as well; stay up-to-date with your garage door repair and maintenance, so you’ll always know your vehicle is as safe as it can be.
Choose Safety With Garage Door Installation From Austin’s Greater Garage Doors
It’s simple: keeping your garage in great shape is key to keeping your vehicle safe from thieves, weather conditions, and any other outdoor hazards. For a reliable partner garage door repair and installation services, choose the experienced professionals at Austin’s Greater Garage Doors.
We’ve been serving homeowners throughout the Austin area for more than 15 years, so let us bring our expertise to your next garage door installation project. Contact us today for a free quote.
