It’s a shame, but the holiday season is a prime time that mark vehicles as a top spot for thieves. Texan Insurance is here to help keep your items safe with our shared knowledge! If unfortunately your vehicle is robbed, be sure to contact a Texan agent so we can walk you through the claims process on how to get your items replaced or repaired.
Items generally taken from vehicles are normally small, easy to conceal, and easy to pawn, sell or use. They are expensive items or things that are very much in fashion.
Top Ten Things Stolen from Vehicles:
- GPS Devices – mostly the portable ones. It is important to note that even an empty GPS mounting device is announcing you have a GPS in the car and is a good enough reason to break into.
- Expensive Car Radio, Speakers, Portable TV’s
- Cell phone, iPod, Portable Gaming System (DS, PSP)
- Laptop, Tablet, iPad
- Car Registration – while electronics items such as the ones already mentioned are clear-cut targets of thieves and burglars, theft of vehicle registrations, car documentation, and even car manuals are often reported as part of items stolen from vehicles. If your car has been broken into and there seems to be nothing taken, look for your car registration if it’s not there, report it promptly to the police. Though you are more likely not going to be a victim of identity theft, your car’s information could be stolen, such as the VIN number, or worse they could sell a similar vehicle using your car’s documentation.
- Third Row Seats – certain brands and models of trucks and SUVs have third-row seats that are easy to disengage and easier to sell. Remember, as long as there are people who will buy it there will be people who would steal it.
- Rims and Tires – though thieves are more likely not going to take your tires, they are more likely to carjack it and leave it somewhere else with fewer contents and many car parts missing. And if you have really nice rims and/or tires, they are sure to take those as well. In fact, this could be the number one reason why they took your car in the first place.
- License Plate and/or Tabs – License plates and even just the stickers (DMV tabs) are taken to be used with their own vehicles or cars they have stolen.
- Truck Tailgate – like third-row seats, some trucks’ tailgates are easy enough to unfasten and thrown behind a pick-up truck to be used personally or sold.
- Catalytic Converters – another easy steal is your truck’s or SUV’s catalytic converter. Most stolen converters are sold to recyclers or other buyers of precious metals. And most converter victims say that the theft was so quick, it probably could have been done in under five minutes. A few more items not in this list but also easily stolen are house or car keys and worse garage door openers.
If the thieves took your car registration or know your house address, they can easily use your house keys and/or garage door openers to easily gain entrance into your home while you are out somewhere shopping, watching a movie, or dining out. Knowledge of another way of thinking can make you think twice about leaving these items visible or inside your car at all.
Keep checking our blog for tips on how to keep your car from being stolen. Double-check your auto insurance to make sure you’re covered! And call us for a free quote today!
