Keeping a car from being stolen

Thieves can strike in seconds, and most thefts happen at or near the owner's home. Locking up and taking the keys every time stops the easiest thefts. The rest of the list makes the car a harder target.

Every time you park

• Lock the doors and shut the windowsCheck both before you walk away, even if you'll be back in a few minutes.
• Take the key fob with youMake sure it isn't left in the car. Keep it in your hand on the way to and from the car, so the panic button is close.
• Never leave it running unattendedNot even to step away for a moment.
• Park in a garage, or somewhere busy and well litAt home, keep the car in the garage and lock the garage door. Elsewhere, choose a busy, well-lit spot, and in a lot or garage park near the guard booth or the store entrance.
• Look around before you leave itIf someone is loitering nearby, move the car.
• Valuables out of sightTake phones, laptops and bags with you, or lock them in the trunk.

Extra layers

• A steering wheel lock or a trackerA steering wheel lock or a gearshift lock makes the car harder to take. Most new cars include a tracking device that can help find a stolen car, and one can be added to an older car.
• The VIN marked on the partsUse paint or an indelible marker to put the VIN under the hood, under the trunk lid and on the battery. A marked car is harder to sell or strip for parts.
• The catalytic converterThieves steal catalytic converters for their recycling value. Ask your insurer how your policy handles a stolen converter.
• An anti-theft discountSome insurers offer a discount for anti-theft devices.

While you drive

Keep the doors locked and the windows up, and don't sit in a parked car with the door unlocked. If someone bumps your car or seems to be stranded and you feel threatened, stay inside with the doors locked. Drive to a police or fire station, or set off the alarm with the key fob.

Keep your phone with you and charged. Avoid stopping alone on isolated roads, at isolated ATMs or in empty corners of a parking lot. If you're unsure about where you parked, ask a security guard to walk you to the car.

If the car is stolen

Call the police right away, then your insurer. Keep a record of the VIN, the license plate and the registration numbers, so they're ready when you call.