How to make your car less attractive to thieves

Second only to property, a car is right at the top of the list of financial outlay an individual can make. Protecting that investment is crucial, especially as thieves are using more complex techniques to get their hands on vehicles.

According to statistics from the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, over 12,500 cars were stolen across Australia in the final quarter of 2014 alone.

Putting provisions in place to avoid becoming part of that statistic is important for individuals and enterprises alike. While the appropriate business vehicle insurance or personal vehicle cover is one thing, there are a number of steps that can be taken to make a car less attractive to thieves.

Here are the good practices to follow and the things to keep in mind in efforts to do just that:

Out of sight, out of mind

The majority of would-be car thieves will identify targets based on what they can see. If you're the type of person who leaves your mp3 player or smartphone in sight, breaking that bad habit is essential.

Hiding valuables may seem rudimentary, but those who don't will likely attract trouble. Even if the car itself isn't stolen, you may have to deal with the fallout of losing some valuable possessions and repairing at least one smashed window.

Add layers of security

The vast majority of modern vehicles feature comprehensive alarms, but they can be improved upon. Fitting an aftermarket device is one of the best ways to deter thieves.

Some of the available devices have truly innovative features. Many allow you to control the settings of the alarm through a smartphone app, while others offer attributes that aren't widely fitted by manufacturers, such as the remote ability to turn off the vehicle's ignition.

While the original outlay may seem like overkill at first, aftermarket alarms can make your car that little bit more secure.

Switch off the engine

There are times when it may seem convenient to leave your vehicle's engine running. Whether you're quickly picking something up from the shop or running to an ATM, you may think that there's little chance that leaving the car unattended for such a short period of time would pose a problem.

However, it may only take a few seconds before your pride and joy is being driven off into the distance.

Making sure you turn off the engine and lock the doors - no matter how short a period of time you'll be away from the vehicle - is crucial in avoiding any particularly brazen thieves.

Have a parking strategy

Parking in urban environments can be a nightmare at the best of times, but being mindful of where you are actually leaving your vehicle is important.

At night in particular, aim for well-lit spaces with plenty of pedestrian traffic. If you choose a spot that's convenient yet secluded, you may well find that your car comes under scrutiny from thieves who can go about breaking into your car safe in the knowledge they won't be disturbed.

Remember registration plates

A slightly different issue but one which will just as easily see your car stolen is the 'cloning' of your registration plates.

Of course, this means that your vehicle won't actually be physically taken, but it does mean that thieves can then steal a similar vehicle and try to re-sell it by passing it off as yours.

Furthermore, if the replica vehicle is then used to carry out a crime or is involved in any nefarious activity, the police will likely need to talk to you.

The situation is easily explained in that case, but if you ever have your registration plates stolen, you should report it immediately as you would if the car itself was taken.