Winter Home Security: Watch Out for Warm-Up Car Thefts
A big winter home security tip involves vehicle security. Criminals are on the lookout to steal cars that are easy targets. Home security also means protecting your vehicle and your family.
A recent car theft in Malton, Ontario was especially terrifying for the vehicle owner since her nine-month-old baby was in the back seat of the stolen automobile. Thankfully, the vehicle and the child were found unharmed shortly afterward. Police say that there is no evidence to indicate that the vehicle or the child was targeted and that it appears that the suspect was committing what is known as a “warm-up car theft.” These thefts are important to look out for and are a key aspect of home security for winter months. A warm-up car theft is a situation where a criminal steals a vehicle that has been left running unattended to “warm it up.” During the cold winter months, many drivers start their vehicles and leave them running to warm them up while they stay indoors away from the car. In the case of the vehicle stolen in Malton, the mother left the car running to keep it warm for the child while she went inside the gas station to pay for gas.
Protect Yourself with Tips for Home Security for Winter Months
Home security for winter is different than other seasons. In order to keep your vehicle safe, never leave your car unattended when it is running or with the keys in the ignition, even if you only plan to be away from it for a short period. At this time of year, criminals are on the lookout for cars that are running with no one watching them. Stealing a car that already has the keys in the ignition is simple and it literally takes only a few seconds. Keeping your car safe is a crucial part of winter home security.Warm-up car thefts are very common, especially during the colder months which makes looking out for them a crucial aspect winter home security. For example, a Mercedes Benz was stolen from a driveway in Brampton while the owner went inside his home to pick something up, leaving the car running. At the time, Peel Regional Police stressed the importance of keeping vehicles locked and ensuring that valuables are out of sight at all times.
Warm-up thefts can be avoided by using a remote starter to warm up the car. If your vehicle does not have this feature, it’s recommended that you use a second set of keys to lock the vehicle while you are warming it up. However, the best way to prevent these types of car thefts is to never leave your keys in the ignition when you are away from the vehicle. Even if the doors are locked, a criminal can quickly force his or her way into the vehicle and steal it. Always keep vehicle and home security in mind.
“Leaving a car running and unlocked in the driveway or parking lot is an open invitation to them to drive off with a vehicle that they normally couldn’t steal,” says Joe Wehrle of The National Insurance Crime Bureau. “Today’s late model vehicles are very difficult to steal thanks for improved anti-theft technology, but unfortunately many of the cars and trucks that are taken today are left unlocked with the keys inside.”
In addition to locking your vehicle, never leaving the keys in the ignition and keeping valuables out of sight, other important vehicle safety and home security tips include: • Using a car security system such as an alarm
• Installing a physical theft prevention device that locks the steering wheel or brakes
• Parking in well-lit, well-traveled areas
• Keeping your vehicle in a locked garage whenever possible
SafeTech understands the unique aspects of winter home security. If you need help securing your property, contact our dedicated team of loss prevention professionals today. We can install monitored security cameras at your home that will ensure that your vehicle and the rest of your property are watched over at all times. These home security tools prevent theft. We can also install physical security tools that make it significantly more difficult to enter your property, keeping you, your family and your belongings safe. Trust SafeTech for home security.