From chilly mornings to earlier sunsets, autumn weather conditions present unique risks for auto theft. As part of Équité’s Fortifying Your Fall Fraud Defences campaign, we have created an Autumn Auto Theft Protection list to help educate drivers on some of the ways opportunistic criminals may take advantage of darker days and colder weather.
Autumn Auto Theft Protection Checklist
- Never leave your vehicle idling unattended - Warm-up thefts occur when drivers attempt to pre-warm their vehicle by starting it and then returning indoors while it defrosts or heats the cabin. Doing so makes your vehicle an easy target for a criminal to hop in and steal your car in a matter of seconds.
- Plan ahead for earlier sunsets - Although the sun may be shining when you enter your destination, an earlier sunset means your car may be in a dark parking lot when you return. Where possible, park in well-lit, secured and monitored lots.
- Keep valuables out of plain sight - Visible holiday shopping bags or fall sports gear such as hockey equipment can make your vehicle even more attractive to thieves. Hide packages and valuables before arriving at your destination.
- Rethink your entryway drop-zone - Hanging autumn jackets with keys in the pockets at the door or tossing key fobs on entryway tables makes it easy for criminals outside to intercept and amplify the fob’s signal, providing instant keyless access to your vehicle. Get into the habit of storing fobs in a signal blocking Faraday bag or deep inside your home away from exterior walls.
- Clear outdoor security cameras and floodlights - Autumn leaves, frost or debris can block motion-activated floodlights and security camera lenses preventing them from working as intended. Regularly inspect and clean your home security equipment to keep your property well monitored.
On behalf of the property and casualty industry, Équité partners with law enforcement, government and decision-makers to protect Canadians from insurance crime and fraud.
To anonymously report information about insurance crime by phone, please call Crime Stoppers (available 24/7) at 1-800-222-TIPS.
