Car theft is a serious problem for Australian drivers, with a quick break-in and easy buck made from all sorts of valuable possessions we easily and carelessly leave in our cars. So what are the top picks pinched by offenders?
1. Laptops
Laptops often store all of our most prized, precious data, including passwords we keep track of for safe keeping, documents retained over years of hard work, memories dear to our heart, video and music files, and much, much more. Having our laptops unexpectedly torn away from us against our will through criminal activity leaves us feeling not only in despair of lost items in the event of a car break-in (as many of us don't back up our data on other hard drives), but that our privacy has been invaded. Laptops are our possessions often storing the utmost personal details - don't let malicious offenders get a hold of them!
2. Wallets
While a moment of distraction, too many things to carry at once, a state of inebriation or simply too loose a jeans pocket can cause accidents to happen, there are too many wallets, purses or loose credit cards left alone in cars and tauntingly ready for criminals to run around with on a spending spree, maxing out quick payments before you've noticed a card is missing!
3. Mobile phones
Mobile phones are an easy target for criminals, where a quick resale is a fast way to make easy cash. Ensure you're protecting your privacy too, with all your information from banking details to personal property backed up, and most importantly, on your person. Most people know the stress of losing their mobile phone - some of us may have even experienced this only momentarily, with a quick rush of relief when finding it in a forgotten place. Losing a point of contact, emergency communication, a photo album, contacts, addresses, or stored information is incredibly unsettling and realistic when phones are left in cars, luring preying thieves.
4. Chargers - laptops, mobile phones
What often goes hand in hand with laptops and mobile phones is, you guessed it, laptop and mobile phone chargers! Our favourite devices don't do much good without their juice and when we rely so heavily on them on a day to day basis, we ensure they've got their chargers nearby for worst case scenario technology deaths. Selling these chargers in for a quick buck only makes sense to a car thief.
5. Car keys
Surprisingly enough, car keys do manage to get locked inside cars at times. The best way to protect yourself from a break-in - because let's face it, the next step after smashing the window and taking the keys is stealing the vehicle itself - is to remain in sight of your car while you wait for a car locksmith or roadside assistance to get to you, stat!
The most simple solution to avoiding petty, opportunistic crime? Don't leave valuables unattended in your car! Easily prevent thieves by taking your valuables with you, or if that's not possible, locking your doors when you're not in your car and hiding your property in the glove box or boot if not visible from the outside as an alternative solution.
It's always a great idea to park in well lit and secured areas as thieves are more obvious to pick out by witnesses or security cameras.
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