How to Prevent Your Car from Getting Broken Into

According to Gaithersburg’s Police 2022 report, crimes against property, which includes offenses such as burglary, robbery, thefts and vandalisms, increased 8.6% from 1,899 offenses in 2021 to 2,063 offenses in 2022. While numbers for 2023 are not available yet, many neighbors that I talked to complained about an increase in car-break ins, where valuables were stolen or contents of the car were moved around.
This increase is likely due to a number of factors, including skyrocketing value of electronics that are being left in the cars, lack of visibility in some parking areas and, unfortunately, people’s trust in their neighborhoods, which results in cars being left unlocked for a short and extended period of time.
There are a number of things you can do to prevent your car from getting broken into, while parked at home, or somewhere else in the city. Here are a few tips:

• Don't leave valuables in your car. This is the number one thing you can do to prevent your car from getting broken into. If you have to leave something in your car, make sure it's out of sight and out of reach.
• Lock your car doors. Always. Even if you are running into a store or a gas station for just a minute. Thieves will often look for the easiest target, i.e. the one with unlocked doors.
• Park in well-lit areas. If you can, park your car in a well-lit area. This will make it less attractive to thieves and make it easier for you to see if someone is trying to break into your car. If you are parked on the street next to your house, consider installing additional flood lights.
• Install additional cameras around your parking area. This will deter thieves and alert you if someone tries to break into your car.
• Report your break in to the police. This will make sure that statistics are accurate and negative trends are addressed by the police.

While car break ins will most likely continue to increase throughout the warmer months, you can minimize your risks. Have a safe summer!