Having your rental car broken into can leave you feeling devastated and suspicious. It can very well ruin an otherwise amazing holiday. Whether it is a business trip or a family vacation, you will be forced to stop what you are doing to a file police report as you try to find a way out of the sticky situation. If you are in a foreign country, language barrier and local rules can also be an impediment and can make the process even harder. Prevention is the best way to approach this issue. Avoid leaving items that are popular with burglars in the car or securing them whenever you’re not in the car. Here are the most common items stolen from rental cars.
- GPS Devices
When you are traveling, especially in unfamiliar destinations, a GPS device can come in handy. These devices come with mounting cases that are attached to your car’s windscreen. Even if you carry the GPS device with you, the case left exposed can cause thieves to break into your car rental. Always unmount the case and keep it away when you are not in your car rental.
- Car Stereos
While most rental cars don’t come with fancy stereos, they are still a target if they have one. Car stereos are the most common items stolen from cars. This is because they are easy to uninstall from the car and have a high resale value. To discourage car stereo burglars, pick a car with a stock radio. Thieves are unlikely to break into the car as they don’t have a good resale value and can’t be installed in different car models.
- Laptops
While most people won’t leave their laptop in exposed in the car, they often forget to hide the cable or laptop bag. If a thief sees the charging cable or a laptop bag, they are likely to break into the car to find the laptop. As you hide your laptop under the car seat when leaving the car, make a point of hiding the bag and charging cable as well.
- The Music Player
These days, it is possible to download and store all your music in a music player. If you own an iPod or MP3 player, you may want to keep it away from prying eyes when you’re not in your car rental. These have high resale potential and thieves are always on the lookout for them.
- Purses and Wallets
This is a no-brainer. Never leave your wallet or purse in your car. It is advisable to always keep it with you. Thieves will break into your car and the first place they look is in the glove compartment. Therefore, it is not as safe as you imagine.
- Mobile Devices
Smartphones and smart devices are easy targets for thieves. Smartphones carry a lot of information and losing it can be a harrowing experience. To guarantee the safety of your phone and information stored therein, do not leave these devices in your car.
- Clothes
While these may not have a great resale value, thieves normally steal them hoping they can find valuable items in the pockets. Keep them hidden away.
