Summer Months: The Peak Car Theft Season

Owners of vehicles often are concerned with accidents, drunk drivers, and distracted drivers but comparatively few people think of vehicle theft.

Although it does not occur as often as an accident does, it most likely occurs more than you think.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “A motor vehicle is stolen every 41 seconds in the United States, and more than 765,000 drivers fall victim to vehicle theft each year.”

The summer months are the peak months for vehicle theft. In fact, July has become the official National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month.

“Approximately 5.9 billion dollars is the estimated total value of vehicles stolen nationwide.” We can attempt to stop this number from growing by taking a few simple steps.

The NHTSA provided a few reminders to help protect your ride:

• “Close and lock all windows and doors when you park
• Park in well lit areas
• Never leave your vehicle while its running
• Never leave keys or valuables in your vehicle”