Your vehicle is more than transportation
Simple habits — like locking your car and hiding valuables — can significantly reduce your risk of vehicle theft.
Many Pennsylvanians rely on their vehicles for work, school, medical appointments and errands, so theft immediately disrupts daily routines and burdens victims with insurance deductibles, rental car costs, missed work and hours of paperwork. “People often think vehicle theft only affects the person whose car was taken,” said Steve Wheeler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority, noting that auto theft raises insurance costs, strains law enforcement and can be used in other crimes. The authority reports nearly half of stolen vehicles in Pennsylvania were left unlocked; recommended precautions include locking your vehicle and taking your keys, removing valuables from plain sight, parking in well-lit, visible areas, never leaving a vehicle running and reporting suspicious activity.