CAA Tips to Protect Your Car

Auto theft continues to be a major issue in Ontario, where a car is stolen on average every six minutes.  Many of these cars are stolen right from homeowners’ driveways; in fact, according to Toronto Police Services Safety Data, nearly 40% of all car thefts in the GTA in 2023 were reported on residential property.
 
Elliott Silverstein, Director of Government Relations for CAA Insurance will be on the Main Stage at the upcoming Fall Home Show to speak on how to Protect Your Car and Outsmart Thieves, providing practical tips for drivers to help reduce the risk of theft.

Lock your doors and if you have a garage, park your vehicle inside. 
Often times, homeowners don’t park their cars in their garage because of storage and clutter. Why store these low-value goods indoors while your car sits outdoors? Consider using a storage company or junk removal company to clear out the clutter. 

If you have multiple vehicles, park the less expensive one closest to the street.  Also – Consider installing bollards on your private property as a deterrent. Make sure to check municipal by-laws, homeowner/condo association compliance, and have these professionally installed by experts who know the regulations.

Install motion sensors on your driveway and cameras to capture any activity.  Ensure your home perimeter is properly lit.  There are lots of energy efficient outdoor lighting options available, and services to help with installation.

Get a Faraday box/pouch to store key fobs inside your home. These simple and cost-effective solutions help to prevent thieves from picking up and relaying signals from your car keys.  Remember that Faraday boxes must be closed properly in order to effectively block signals.

Secure your parked vehicle with an anti-theft deterrent such as a steering wheel lock, brake pedal lock, or wheel & tire lock devices like “The Club.” 

Consider a professionally installed, after-market immobilizer to secure your vehicle.  Such devices, when armed, prevents the activation of a control unit such as the engine or ignition. To disarm the system, a coded key, a keypad or a remote device is required.

Cover the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) so that it’s not visible on the dashboard. 

Store a tracking device such as an Air Tag in your vehicle.  Prevention is important, but if your car is stolen, a tracking device can help with recovering your car.  You can use a simple Air Tag, or install a more sophisticated GPS tracking system/app that offers customer support should your car be stolen.

Never leave your vehicle running in the driveway.  The belief that cars needed to run/warm-up before driving is an outdated practice when cars relied on carburetors.  With modern fuel systems, it’s not necessary for a well-maintained car to run for more than 30 seconds to start driving.  In fact, idling for long periods can be harmful to your car engine and the environment.

Ensure items are out of sight and do not leave valuables in your vehicle.  This is especially important over the holiday season to not leave gifts or shopping bags in your car overnight.

The 2024 Fall Home Show takes place this Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29 at the Enercare Centre, Toronto.  For programming highlights, speaker schedules and show information, go to fallhomeshow.com.