Top 7 Ways to Prevent Thieves from Ever Victimizing You
Thieves are a sneaky bunch. They will employ plenty of tactics to get what they want. Prevent thieves from ever victimizing you or your family by using these tips:
Lock up.
An unlocked door or window is simply an open invitation to thieves to come in and help themselves. Use the built-in lock if there’s one or install an extra lock to keep yourself and your valuables safe.
Don’t leave keys in obvious places.
Keys that are placed in areas that are easily accessed by others make them easy to steal and use later. Keep keys in places that are accessible to you but difficult for others to find.
Don’t make the mistake of leaving keys in your car, even if you’re just warming it up. Thieves need only a few precious seconds to sneak in and drive away with your vehicle.
Use anti-theft device.
Low-tech or high-tech, an anti-theft device should serve its purpose – prevent thieves from making a poor victim out of you or at least deter them from doing their dastardly deeds.
Familiarize yourself with the use of the device and don’t forget to activate it. Periodically check if the device works and replace old batteries with fresh ones. Consider installing anti-theft devices that may be operated remotely. A kill-switch for your car’s ignition, for example, will help prevent car theft.
Document your property.
Cars, valuable paintings, jewelry, appliances, computers, mobile phones, etc. are favorite theft items. If you can’t prevent thieves from getting their hands on these, at least prevent them from getting away with it.
If you have registration numbers, titles and certificates that will help identify the item once it’s stolen, keep these in a safe place for reference. Take pictures as well. If it won’t help you in getting the item back, a photograph will serve for insurance purposes.
Protect your identity.
If you aren’t careful, identity thieves can easily victimize you. Guard personal information well, particularly those that pertain to your social security number, driver’s license, bank account details and credit cards.
Be possessive.
Don’t trust strangers with your personal stuff and don’t leave items lying around, within easy reach of thieves. Purses, packages, bags, mobile phones and laptops are easily picked up when you’re not watching.
Verify.
Anyone who tries to get into your house should be cleared first. If they claim to be from a certain company or organization, ask for identification and then verify with the company itself. If somebody is trying to get to you online, be wary and make sure you check them out first.
image credits to nijoker
Tags: Crime, prevent theft, theft, thief