How Not to Have Your Car Broken Into on Vacation
An Automopedia Saturday Feature – It’s easy for some to let their guard down when traveling to a foreign land, exploring the sights/sounds/intoxicating beverages on vacation. However, all that fun can come to a stretching halt when you discover your worldly possession have been stolen our of a car – it’s bad enough if something happens to the rental (especially without the insurance you waved) but 1000 time more insulting when your actual car is busted into. Here are a few tips Automopedia hopes can leave a traveler’s worry at home when on the road during some well-deserved R&R – and won’t have you searching for a car loan once you get back.
Lock it up
Coming from small town America people have a habit of leaving car doors unlocked, windows down and alarms off. This may fly in East Bumblefrak, MN, but while trekking through a new urban region it’s probably best to press that lock button on your key fob.
Don’t park on a poorly lit street
Out of town parking is always a pain in the rear – you’re either stuck paying insane fees at a garage or feeding the meter every two hours. “I’ll just park down this empty, dark, not checked by police alley.” It’s a fine idea for owners of a 1987 Reliant K, complete with duct tape fender and 8-Track player – but for those cruising around in something more modern try dishing out a few extra bucks on secure parking. Find a road with more than one street light, or if you can’t at least park under that only lamp!
Take out all important documents
Nobody wants a wallet/purse full of crap when bar hopping – and all you need is a picture ID! Leaving important documents in your car, either out on the dash or hidden in a glove compartment, is a recipe for disaster (as they like to say on prime time news). Out of state plates can attract unwanted attention; a grab and run criminal may snag your passport, social security card, etc. Take it with you or leave it wherever you’re staying.
Don’t leave expensive electronic (iPod, GPS, Laptops) in plain sight
Again, the comfort level one experiences living in a low-crime area leads many to not detach GPS units, iPods, laptop docks, etc. When visiting an unfamiliar place with half of Best Buy’s inventory in your front seat it is best to lock them in the trunk, or lug it all into the hotel room.
Take off any obnoxious American Flags/Magnetic Ribbons
Ok, we get it, you love America. Well, I’d hate to be the one to tell ya, but not everyone in the world does. In fact, some get pretty pissed at the sight of an American flag – so leave your patriotism at home – look at it this way, if Frenchie came over and started blabbering “Viva La France!” you’d get pretty annoyed, don’t you think they’d feel similarly?
“God Bless my car”
Don’t give a random stranger your keys while intoxicated
Made some cool new friends at the local pub, shared stories of men or women you’ve been with, adventures from youth? That’s sweet, but you still shouldn’t give this random person the keys to your ride, no matter how f**ked up you are. If you do hand them over, don’t be surprised if the new pal is gone after a trip to the rest room. Keep em on ya and hitch a cab.
Security should always be one of our main concerns most especially nowadays that burglary is rampant and getting more advanced each day. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Servicing your auto air conditioner is key to save you a lot of headaches, specially if you are going out this summer vacation!
Servicing your air conditioning annually will help increase the life and reliability of your compressor, condenser, and evaporator and ultimately will help you avoid costly repairs.