Well the numbers are out and the good news is it is getting ever less likely that your car will be stolen. National numbers for car thefts are in sharp decline with enhancements both in part identification, car tracking, and improved police techniques. That’s the good news.
The bad news is car break-ins in our area are on the upswing according to information presented by several local police departments in Lorain County. Items that thief’s are after are easy to sell electronics such as cell phones (especially smart phones), ipods, gps and other gadget type items. The worst part is most items value is well below the deductible and are out of pocket expenses to the owner when taken.
What can you do to protect yourself. Believe it or not, just a couple of pro-active steps will greatly reduce your chances of a loss.
- Lock your car doors. We know this sounds overly simple, but according to local authorities many of the items that were targeted were done so because of the ease of the theft. Meaning the car was unlocked!
- Keep your gadgets and loose change or valuables out of plain sight. Most break-ins occur when a thief spots a item of value when scouting areas for targets. Out of sight, out of trouble, that’s the best rule to protect yourself.
- Write down the serial numbers of valuables. Most folks never record the serials numbers of their gadgets, and they all have one. If the police are fortunate enough to recover your items, they have to have something to go on to get them back in the right hands. Keep a list of what’s yours.
- Park in well lit areas at night.
These are all basic items, but you would be surprised at how many people do not take steps to protect their valuables.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your coverage, please contact your TEAM-ATD rep. We’re here for you!
