Car theft has become a major issue in India. Your car is more than just a vehicle and is considered your freedom, your escape, and your livelihood. Your vehicle is one of your most valuable assets and protecting it from theft is important.
When talking about a middle-class family, a car is their moving home. Therefore, losing a vehicle is the worst nightmare of these people which nobody wants to encounter.
It is estimated that approximately 1,00,000 cars are stolen every year in a country like India and the number is going to increase with the improving economy in the country where more and more people are able to afford cars.
And, if you are the one who owns a car in India, then it is important to protect your vehicle from cunning thieves. Fortunately, there are some tips that will help you immensely to save your vehicle from cunning thieves.
How Big is the Car Market in India?
In recent years, made-in-India cars have become progressively popular in other countries not only because they are cheaper but also because they are reliable and offer appealing features that fascinate customers in other markets.
Just because of this increased demand, the automotive market in India is foreseen to grow at an expanding rate in the upcoming years. In the last five years, the market of the car has grown by more than 20%.
In 2023, there were more than 30 million cars on the road and the growth is expected to continue as the economy continues to improve. This is the reason why car theft is also increasing in the country.
Overview of the Stolen Vehicles in the Indian Market
The majority of the stolen vehicles in India are low-cost cars which include the Maruti Suzuki Swift and the Hyundai i20. These are some of the most common models of the car that are easy to sell in the black market.
If you are among those people who own these cars, then you need to be extra vigilant about protecting them from theft. The Indian cities with the highest number of car thefts are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. In order to understand better, make sure to refer to the table below.
As we know, these cities are some of the most densely populated cities in India, it makes it seamless for thieves to steal the vehicles and get away with it. As a result, people often opt for a used car which is affordable and gives them peace of mind.
Top 11 Things to Do To Keep Your Car Safe From Thieves
Car theft is more common in urban areas and happens most of the time, especially for the cheapest sports car in India., Thieves are getting smarter over time and they usually make use of smart keys in order to steal the cars. And, in order to avoid detection, they change the car identification numbers.
Let’s understand some of the most important things that you should perform in order to keep your car safe from cunning thieves. These 11 things to keep in mind are explained below.
1. Be Aware of Car Theft
You need to be alert and cautious of your surroundings when parking your car. If you are well aware of the safety of your car or you see someone loitering around the parking lot, then it is the best option to park your car somewhere else.
We advice you to double-check the windows and doors of your car and make sure that they are closed before leaving your car unattended.
2. Obtain a Gear and Steering Locks
Any gear lock instrument that is able to secure the gear lever is one of the most acceptable ways to keep thieves away from your car. This gear lock mechanism will act as a deterrent and will discourage thieves from coming close to your car.
A steering lock adds one more string layer of security to your vehicle. Nevertheless, it may not keep an experienced thief away from your car, hence you should add multiple layers of deterrence that can discourage thieves.
3. Lock Your Doors
Locking your doors is the basic and most important step for deterring a thief. Make sure to make a habit of locking and double-checking the doors of your car in order to prevent car theft.
This is one of the most important things that you should keep in mind because unlocked cars are the ones that are the direct target of thieves.
4. Remove Your Keys From the Vehicle
If you leave your keys in the car, then a thief can simply break the window of the vehicle and drive the car away. You should know that a running vehicle is an easy target for thieves, especially if the car is unlocked or unattended.
Therefore, you should never leave your car unattended and remove the keys from the car if you are coming out of the vehicle.
Also Read:- Driving Licence Types in India and Process to Apply.
5. Do Not Leave a Spare Key Near Your Vehicle
There are some people who keep a spare key in the glove box or under the car, just in case they get locked out. But you should know that these thieves are smart and cunning and they are well aware of where to check for an extra key.
We understand that being locked out of your car is a stressful condition, but think about the extreme loss of your car getting stolen.
6. Close the Windows
You should close all the windows of your car because it is easy for a thief to get into your car and open the door without breaking in.
Therefore, it is important to check all the windows are closed or not before leaving your car unattended.
7. Park in Safe Areas
You should always avoid parking your car in poorly lit areas where you are not even able to see the people who pass by the road.
Therefore, we suggest you park your car in a well-lit area and well-trafficked area, because thieves will be averted if they know that they can be seen easily and drop the plan to steal your car.
8. Install an Audible Alarm System and Anti Theft System Car
You should know that an audible alarm is specifically designed in order to emit a loud noise, usually the horn of the car if someone tries to enter the vehicle while the alarm is on.
These audible devices including the steering wheel lock or the flashing lights of flashing lights of the alarm setup are sufficient to keep thieves away from your car.
9. Do Not Leave Valuables Inside Your Vehicle
One of the optimum ways to lure thieves towards your vehicle is to leave valuable items inside your car, including your purse, cell phone, or other high-value items like laptops, tablets, etc in a highly visible spot of your car.
It is best to leave everything that is expensive and valuable at your home, however, if you need them crucially, then keep them in your car, but make sure that they are kept out of sight.
10. Install a Vehicle Immobilizer System
You should keep in mind that thieves sometimes try to tamper with the wiring of the car and the ignition. Nevertheless, a vehicle’s immobilizer setup will always help you a lot to combat this problem.
As per the experts, immobilizers can integrate kill switches, wireless ignition-based authentication, and smart keys. They will help to disable the vehicle in order to stop thieves from running away with the same.
11. Install a Tracking System
You should consider including a tracking system in your car in order to get additional security. This instrument can be found on most of the new and top-selling cars in India that use wireless or GPS technology to release a signal when your car gets stolen.
When this signal is released, then the authorities can use it in order to check where you are and help you a lot in order to get back home safely. This device will help the police to recover your car quickly.
Top 8 Preventive Measures for Car Theft
Car stealing is a serious situation that is faced by numerous people out there. However, it cannot be prevented completely but by adopting some measures the chances of your car stealing can be reduced, Let’s learn some of the crucial preventive measures to control or put a stop to car stealing.
1. Establish CCTV Cameras
Installing CCTV cameras on the premises where the car is parked can help you immensely in recognizing the thieves and can significantly reduce the possibility of car theft.
Installing CCTV cameras can help you immensely in improving not only your outdoor security but also the safety of your vehicle.
2. Shield Your VIN Number
The VIN number permits police officers and higher authorities to identify your stolen vehicles easily, so if your car is stolen, it can be recovered.
Therefore, having a visible VIN number or Vehicle Identification Number also makes your vehicle less attractive and less appealing to thieves because they will need to take additional steps in order to make the car ready for resale.
3. Keep Your Car Locked
It is extremely important to keep your car locked at every time in order to prevent car stealing. Locking your car also prevents other animals or rodents from entering your car.
When you park your car, never leave the keys inside the vehicle even for a few seconds. You should know that leaving the keys in the car is a sheer case of negligence which is not covered under the car theft insurance.
4. Avoid Leaving Valuable Items Inside Your Car
Avoid leaving any valuable items, including laptops, purses, phones, etc inside your car as these items can lure the thieves to steal your car.
If you need to keep them in your car, then make sure to keep them out of sight. Not only this, but you should also avoid travelling to high-risk areas in the dark as there are high possibility of your car being stolen.
5. Park Your Car Safely
The majority of Indian people park their vehicles outside their houses because of the absence of indoor parking. It is one of the major reasons for car theft.
Since the vehicle remains unattended for the whole night, anyone can steal it. Therefore, it is highly recommended to park your car inside your house if you have sufficient parking space.
6. Establish a Dash Camera
A dashcam is an instrument that can be fitted in the car near the front windshield. The dash cams have the potential to record 24*7 even when you are not driving your vehicle.
You are able to choose the dashcam “ON” in order to record any suspicious or fishy activities, including tried break-ins or risked damage to your vehicle.
7. Never Forget to Install Anti-Theft System
As per a survey conducted, only 10% of car owners have installed anti theft car lock. These systems are developed in order to prevent your car’s MPFI engine from starting until the key is present.
Similarly, anti-theft alarms are also developed in order to warn or alert the car owner if there is forcible entry into the car. When you install any of these systems inside your car, it can help you immensely in saving your vehicle from being stolen.
Several thieves are discouraged from stealing cars that have anti-theft devices or else they can get tracked easily and the car will be recovered seamlessly. Insurance companies offer multiple discount options to vehicles that have fitted car anti theft devices.
Also Read:- What is MPFI Engine?
8. Take Comprehensive Car Insurance for Your Car
Finally, the last thing that you need to do is to take comprehensive insurance for your vehicle. When you have proper insurance, then it can help you immensely to recover all the loss that occurs from the car being stolen.
However, you should keep in mind that the premium for the insurance completely depends on the model, make, age, and other factors of the vehicle.
Things to Do Immediately When Your Car Gets Stolen
If your car gets stolen, stop panicking and follow the below-mentioned instructions carefully. These instructions will help you bountifully to recover your car from thieves and the black market. Let’s learn these instructions in a detailed way:
⇒ If your car is stolen, immediately contact the police.
⇒ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, i.e., NHTSA says that you may be required to provide the following information to the police in order to investigate the matter:
→ The year, model, make, and colour of the car.
→ License plate number.
→ VIN number, i.e., Vehicle Identification Number.
⇒ Make sure to inform your insurance company regarding your car theft within 24 hours, as stated by NHTSA.
From here, your insurance company will take the process of filing claims forward once the police issue its official letter on being stolen and unable to find the car, However, we all know that stealing a car is not as common as it once was. Still, you need to take precautions in order to reduce the chances of your car being stolen.
9 Advice to Protect Your Vehicle From Car Theft
Everyone wants to protect their vehicle from theft. Hence, we are here to help you how you can protect your car from theft. Make sure to follow the below-mentioned advice in order to prevent car stealing.
→ Never park your car in poorly lit areas with less or no visibility.
→ Never travel alone, especially in the dark.
→ Never give your car to anyone whom you don’t know.
→ If you feel something odd, then never hesitate to turn your car back. You need to trust your gut.
→ If you are driving your car and see a person approaching near you, then make sure to drive away slowly in a calm manner.
→ Travel in a middle lane.
→ Always turn off your engine when getting out of the car, no matter if it is for a few seconds or an hour.
→ Never leave your car unattended.
→ Do not leave your keys inside the car.
A Quick Review
Last but not least, you should park smart, stay vigilant, and secure strong. We hope that you will use these tips in order to prevent car theft, Never forget to purchase a comprehensive car insurance policy, so that in some unfortunate cases like car stealing, you can make a claim and deal with the financial burden that may fall on you.
By following the above advice and crucial measures, you will be able to save your car from getting stolen. You should become one of the toughest obstacles for the car, not its easiest target!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How can stolen vehicle theft be prevented?
Ans. In order to prevent your car from theft, you need to follow the below-mentioned steps in a careful manner.
→ Establish CCTV cameras.
→ Shield your VIN Number.
→ Keep your car locked.
→ Avoid leaving valuable items inside your car.
→ Park your car safely.
→ Establish a dash camera.
→ Never forget to install an anti-theft system.
→ Take comprehensive car insurance for your car.
Q. What is the most effective car theft prevention method?
Ans. Add a lock and an alarm system in your car as higher authorities say that visible steering wheel locks work perfectly for discouraging thieves from stealing your cars.
Q. What is the best car security system?
Ans. One of the best car security systems that you should include in your vehicle includes the following:
→ InstallGear Car Alarm and Keyless Entry System.
→ Viper 5305V Car Alarm and Remote Start System.
→ Viper 350 PLUS 3105V Car Alarm Keyless Entry.
→ BANVIE Car Alarm System with Keyless Entry.
→ CHADWICK Car Horn Siren Alarm CW-8110.
→ VJOYCAR DIYV1 Car Alarm System.
→ Powstro Solar Car Alarm LED Light.
Q. What are the most common things stolen from cars?
Ans. One of the most common things that are stolen from the cars are mentioned below:
→ Third row seats
→ Rims and Tires
→ Truck Tailgate
→ License Plate/Tags
→ Catalytic Converters
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