How To: Securing Your Convertible

Summer is in full swing, and we are still enjoying longer daylight hours and more opportunities for leisurely convertible cruises. Whether you’re attending events within your city, planning for daytrips or enjoying weeks away from home out on the open road, we know that you’d rather spend your time enjoying yourself than worrying about the security of your car. But it’s important to remember that break-ins can happen anywhere, and that convertibles have a higher chance for break-ins simply because they are more accessible.

Because of this, we have outlined some helpful tips for you to keep in mind while you’re out and about in your convertible this summer and year round:

• First and foremost, to reduce your chances of car theft, always park your car in a well-lit, high-traffic area where your car can be seen by passersby. Don’t park in alleys or leave your car in parking lots after hours. The longer your car remains parked in an isolated area, the higher your chances are of a break-in.


• Although your chances of a break-in increase dramatically when your car is abandoned for longer periods of time, it’s important to remember that a theft can occur anywhere, and it typically happens fast. To ensure the safety of your belongings, we strongly recommend that you don’t leave any items in your car at any time. Since typically insurance will not cover items that aren’t permanently a part of your car, remove all valuables from your car even if you don’t plan on being gone long.


• If you must leave items in your car, don’t leave them in plain sight. If your car doesn’t appear to contain anything of value, chances are a thief won’t take the risk of breaking in only to find nothing. Things to take or hide should include any electronics, including your car stereo. If you have the option to remove your customized stereo, do so. Stereos are pricey to replace, and their forceful removal by a thief will likely cause other damage to your car. 


• If you must keep valuables in your car, lock them in your glove box. While items stolen from your glove box are likely also not covered by insurance, a locked glove box may deter a thief from taking further action. Theft occurs most commonly when items are within reach and the thief can finish the job quickly before getting caught. A locked glove box is an added obstacle a thief may not want to tackle.


• Don’t leave your keys on the tire of your car or in other places you’ve deemed “secret.” Car thieves know where to look for keys, and to a thief, leaving your keys in a special spot on or around your car is the equivalent of leaving them in plain sight.

If you personally have any words of advice for our readers, please share your comments or experiences with us.

Stay safe this summer, and happy driving!