Protecting your automobile from being vandalized or stolen is no easy task. Today there is an automobile stolen or vandalized approximately every 10 seconds. Thieves find large lucrative venues for your cars parts and components. In today’s times of economic hardship and distressed economy, the attractiveness of a thief to steal your auto is high. Below are some very simple but proven effective ways to minimize the chance to your auto becoming one of these statistics?

• Always park your auto near the entrance of a building this allows for more visibility of the auto and lessens the chance of the thief from having a clear unobstructed opportunity to gain entry to the vehicle.

• If your budget or car does not allow for an alarm systems, invest in what is called a steering wheel club. The unit keeps a thief from driving off with your auto by locking the steering wheel in a position that doesn’t allow the auto to be maneuvered. This is a highly rated device and can save you thousands. Of course this something insurance companies will ask you about when you are shopping around for cheap insurance quotes.

• Always activate your alarm if applicable when leaving vehicle, remember a moment or two is all a thief needs to steal your auto.

• Always roll up and secure all windows before exiting vehicle.

• Lock all doors and compartments such as tool racks trunks etc.

• Remove all visible electronic devices such as radar detectors, GPS, laptops, DVD players or anything that may attract a thief’s eye to vandalize your auto. Lock these items in your trunk when applicable. Leaving valuable items out for a clear view can be just the enticement a car thief needs to steel your auto.

• Never drive to a location where you will be parking your vehicle while playing loud music that can be heard outside of vehicle. A thief that is on the prowl looks for these telltale signs of a vehicle equipped with a high end audio system.

• Never place a spare key in a magnetic box that is hidden under your fender wells or other places most thief’s know all too well about this item.

These are basic and simple precautions that any automobile owner should follow. The simplicity of these suggestions however will add a strong chance that you will not become a victim of an auto thief.