“Freebie” Car Thefts Increase As More Drivers Leave Their Keys Inside
1 Dec 2016
When you’re quickly running into your home to pick up something you’ve forgotten, or are grabbing a quick coffee, you might think it’s OK to leave your keys in your unlocked car for five minutes.
However, a recent report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has essentially stated otherwise. The number of these so-called “freebie” vehicle thefts was up 22 percent to 57,096 in 2015.
Although it’s convenient to leave your vehicle running and open for a few minutes while you’re doing something else nearby, it could cost you your car. When your vehicle is open, with exposed valuables lying around inside, and your keys in the ignition, this is an open invitation to opportunist thieves, who will see your prized possession as easy pickings.
A “freebie” theft is defined as when a driver leaves their FOB or keys in an unlocked car, unattended. Rather than improving, the NICB says that instances of this particular type of theft have grown 31 percent over the past three years.
It must be remembered that the figures above are based on reported data. As people understandably don’t like to admit they’ve left their vehicle unlocked with the keys inside, the figure of 57,096 may be on the lower side in terms of actual thefts.
In a recent press release, the NICB have advised all drivers to:
- Never leave your vehicle unlocked and running, not even to warm it up. It only takes seconds for a thief to drive off with your car.
- Always take a photo of your car registration plate with your phone.
- Never leave any personal papers or registration documents in your car.
- Never leave your garage door opener within your car.
- Always lock your vehicle, ensure the alarm is set, and remove your FOBs or keys.
It’s also good practice to have kill switches, and fuel cut offs in your car, as well as using smart keys.
Another very good way of securing your car against theft is to install a GPS vehicle tracking device. This is invaluable to you in the event of your car being stolen, as it provides route tracking, making your car easier to find.
If you’re interested in learning more about GPS tracking for cars or GPS vehicle locator technology, give us a call at LiveView GPS at 1-888-544-0494.
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