Tips to keep your car safe on campus

Not surprisingly, there are still many car break ins around campuses in the U.S.

If you have a child in school, or you yourself are parking near a school, there are some tips that will help you reduce the odds of a break in occurring with your car or truck.

Although the following tips from the article are pretty good, we’re not so sure about the alarm – most people simply ignore them these days since they are more prone to going off when they aren’t supposed to. Instead of spending money on something like that we think you’re better off following the rest of the advice on a regular basis:

According to the COS Police department there were at least 10 car break-ins and even one car theft among the Visalia, Tulare, and Hanford district campuses this year. These crimes mostly occur spontaneously, and can happen to anyone, even you. Fortunately, being properly informed on car theft safety will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

Car thieves often strike sporadically. The majority of all car break-ins and thefts are crimes of opportunity, meaning that they occur in the heat of the moment. COS PD reports that crimes of opportunity take up 40% of all crimes committed on the three COS district campuses, making them the most common form of theft. Certain makes and models of cars are more likely to be targeted than others.

“Historically, . . . pre-1990-model Hondas and Chevy pickup trucks are more likely to be targeted,” says Police Chief, Bob Masterson. This is because of these makes and models faulty security systems.

First, have an alarm system installed. A car thief who must decide between breaking into a vehicle with an alarm and one without an alarm will always choose the latter.

Second, lock your doors at all times. This will force thieves to break a window and make a lot of noise, which will most likely result in them searching elsewhere for an unlocked car.

Finally, don’t leave any valuables out in the open. Masterson advises you to lock precious items in your trunk or stash them under your seat when you leave your vehicle. Not only does this hide the items from view, but it also presents a much more time-consuming challenge for a thief to face should he or she decide to break in.

Unfortunately, car theft is inevitable and cannot be stopped entirely. However, following these suggestions will greatly decrease the likelihood of a thief targeting your vehicle. Tips to keep your car safe on campus