The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recently released its annual Holiday Vehicle Theft Report, which found that New Year’s Day is the second most popular holiday for auto thefts, with 2,011 cars stolen on that day in 2014. New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve were not far behind on the list, with 1,858 and 1,750 vehicle thefts, respectively.
With the holidays approaching, we wanted to provide your readers with a few tips to prevent auto theft during the festive season, courtesy of Patrick Clancy, VP of LoJack law enforcement. As background, LoJack is a Canton, Mass.-based auto security company that has helped more than nine million people protect their vehicles in the event of theft over the past 25+ years:
- Be a secretive Santa: Conceal any valuables – including holiday gifts and gadgets – by stowing them in your trunk. Remember to lock your car, and be aware that gifts stored in your vehicle often give thieves added motive to break in.
- Turn off the sleigh: Make sure to turn your car off and remove your keys at all times, even if it’s just a quick trip back inside the house.
- May your parking spots be merry and bright: Park your car in a safe, well-lit area that gets plenty of foot traffic. You may be visiting family or attending a holiday party, but it’s important to park your vehicle in a safe place as to avoid becoming a target for opportunistic thieves.
- The weather outside is frightful: “Puffers” are vehicles that are started and left unattended by the owner in order to warm up. While it may be tempting to leave your car unattended and running during winter months, a vacated car that is running is an easy target for thieves.
- Peace on earth, specifically in your driveway: Using a security system will provide peace-of-mind knowing that your assets can be protected and recovered. A LoJack installed device can help police track stolen vehicles, and cars equipped with LoJack are recovered 94 percent of the time.
