Many people fail to recognize vandalism as a source of potential car damage. The majority of respondents are more concerned about automobile theft or potential accident-related damage. Having your vehicle vandalized, on the other hand, is quite frustrating.
Not only that, but the cost of repairing your car is also prohibitively high. Once your automobile has been vandalized, the first thing you think about is why someone would do such a thing to you. It could be a vengeful neighbor, retaliation, a misbehaving child, or even random acts of violence in a neighborhood.
Regardless, you’re now faced with a dilemma that could cost you many thousand dollars in damages. Graffiti, automobile keying, breaking windows, slashing tires, carjacking, and theft are some forms of vandalism that can be committed. As a result, the cost of reparation varies depending on the seriousness of the offense committed.
Others are repairable by the owner, but some require the services of a professional mechanic. The number of stolen vehicles increased by 11.8 percent to 724,872 in 2020, from 724,872 in 2019. Approximately 246.0 motor cars were stolen per 100,000 people in 2020, the highest rate recorded since 2009 was 259.2.
Older models are simple to steal because they do not have superior anti-theft technology in place. However, automakers have made significant strides in recent years, and most current automobiles are equipped with great anti-theft technologies. Some of the most recent sophisticated cars are nearly hard to steal.
Park Your Car or Truck in A Secure Location
According to a Wall Street Journal survey of homeowners, 74 percent say that the essential function is to provide parking space. So, why do so many homeowners overlook the numerous advantages of having a garage parking space? The most common reason automobiles aren’t being parked indoors is garage clutter.
A garage that is not equipped with adequate storage systems will not make the most of its available storage space. Having a cluttered garage may quickly grow, and before you know it, you’ll be forced to store your vehicles outside.
Using your garage for its intended function (keeping automobiles) will quickly become second nature, and you’ll wonder why you waited so long to make garage parking a regular part of your daily routine.
The majority of RV owners will only utilize their recreational vehicles for a couple of months out of the year. A garage can be a problem, but there are numerous advantages to storing your RV at a designated garage rather than on your property.
1. Security
It is not uncommon for thieves to gain entry into recreational vehicles. This includes goods you store in the RV, appliances and other items they want to sell, as well as the complete RV. They may also steal your RV. Recreational vehicle garages are often entirely secure, with many offerings limited access, challenging to scale fences, and 24-hour security monitoring.
2. Space
Parking an RV at your garage takes up a significant amount of space. In either case, the RV will take up a portion of your driveway unless you choose to park it in a side or back yard, in which case it will take up a part of your backyard.
While building a more oversized garage to accommodate the RV is possible, this will be expensive and will still take up space in your yard or car parking area. Putting your RV in a storage facility frees up room in your driveway, allowing you to avoid having to park on the street because your RV is taking up too much space.
3. Safety and security
Your RV’s roof can quickly become damaged if subjected to harsh weather conditions all year long. The top is weakened by ultraviolet light, flying debris, and intense storms. Additionally, these issues can shorten the life of the tires and siding material, and sun fading can cause aging on the RV’s interior walls and ceiling.
By reserving a covered garage place, you can keep your motor home safe from the sun’s ultraviolet rays as well as the elements in general. This weather protection reduces the amount of maintenance required and increases the service life of your recreational vehicle.
4. Attractiveness from the street
A recreational vehicle parked in your driveway or your yard detracts from the appeal of your home. The presence of an RV can be distressing to neighbors concerned about how it appears on their land and how it affects their property value.
Some homeowner’s associations do not allow RVs to be parked on their property or in a conspicuous area. Putting your RV in storage enhances the appearance of your home and ensures that your neighbors are satisfied.
5. Amenities and facilities
Some RV garages provide more than simply a place to keep your vehicle. It is possible that the facility, which caters to RV and boat owners, will provide you with a spacious wash bay where you may thoroughly clean the exterior of your RV after each use.
Some may also provide rubbish collection services as well as gas refills. These types of conveniences make it much easier to prepare your RV for storage or to get it ready to hit the road for your next trip when you have them.
6. Park On a Busy Street
Remember to consider the number of times your automobile is parked daily or weekly, keeping in mind that most streets constantly have a lot of activity going on. Grocery stores, gyms, movie theaters, and even parking outside of restaurants will always be a target for thieves since they will take advantage of the fact that they will not be noticed.
Now think about how you’re going to find a parking spot. Do you pull into the first open parking spot? Which one is closer to the front door? The location of your automobile when you park it and how you leave it when you walk away can significantly enhance the danger of car damage.
Car vandalism can be as minor as a few scratches or as severe as a smashed window, shattered headlights, a flat tire, or a severed gas line in the vehicle. A small percentage of automotive vandalism occurs by chance, while most take place on purpose and almost always on a busy road or street intersection.
On the other hand, having a dash cam does not guarantee that you will not be a break-in victim, and thieves may mistakenly believe that you have more gadgets in your vehicle. If you can separate your camera from your phone, do not leave it in your car. This is true unless you have a full-time alarm camera that the business will replace if your home is broken into.
7. Install A Quality Car Alarm
Despite the widespread use of sophisticated factory-installed anti-theft systems in modern vehicles, the demand for aftermarket automobile alarms remains strong. Thieves, it appears, have not been deterred by modern technology.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of car thefts in the United States increased by 9.2 percent in 2020, reaching more than 873,000 in total, compared to the previous year. Aftermarket car alarms are an excellent solution to secure older vehicles that do not have anti-theft equipment and newer cars with alarms with limited functionality.
Since the first heyday of aftermarket alarms in the 1970s and 1980s, there have been significant technological advancements in car alarms, just as there have been in automobiles themselves. There are two types of modern automobile alarms to choose from.
When someone attempts to break into a building, one-way alarms activate lights and a siren. Two-way alarms accomplish this by transmitting data to either your key fob or your cell phone, alerting you in real-time and in a more direct manner than an alarm that goes off outside or many blocks away from you.
Additionally, two-way alarms can include capabilities such as keyless entry and locking, GPS tracking, and other functions that are accessible through a cell phone.
These alarms provide an additional layer of security over and beyond the factory systems in a car, and they also offer some other benefits. Installing an alarm system can frequently result in cheaper insurance premiums; however, we recommend that you verify with your insurer before proceeding with the installation.
When searching for an alarm system, the most important factors to consider are compatibility with your vehicle, the range over which your remote can communicate with the alarm, ease of installation, features, maintenance, and affordability.
Keep A Clean Car
Maintain the cleanliness of your vehicle’s interior and avoid leaving valuables exposed. If you are transporting valuables, make use of your trunk. Ensuring that your car is pristine and well-maintained daily will scare away potential burglars because it is so simple to be crowded between other vehicles when parking on a busy street.
There is a significant risk of vandalism. A pristine car is an advantage when parking in such an area. Thieves aim to be as efficient as possible, and they avoid stealing clean vehicles since it is riskier to take when you don’t know what you’re going to get. When it comes to protecting your vehicle from the elements, the usage of outdoor custom carcovers.com can be beneficial. Invest in a car cover.
Even though they can be expensive, they are not nearly as expensive as a top-of-the-line alarm system. Vandals are discouraged by the presence of a full-sized car cover. For instance, if a vandal has to raise a cover to cause damage to your vehicle, it is typically more work than they are willing to put into the situation.
Conclusion
To summarize, many people tend to disregard vandalism as a source of possible automobile damage. The majority of respondents are more concerned about automobile theft or potential accident-related damage.
Having your vehicle vandalized, on the other hand, is quite frustrating. Not only that, but the cost of repairing your car is also prohibitively high. If you’re one of the unfortunate ones who’s been the target of vandalism, there are certain things you can do to protect yourself:
Make sure to photograph or videotape the entire scene to document the extent of the damage. Inform the authorities as soon as possible. Because there is unlikely to be any evidence, whoever did this to you may be able to get away with it. The cops, on the other hand, will do everything they can to help.
Remember to obtain a crime reference number as well. You’ll need it when it comes time to file insurance claims. Consider getting a figure on how much it would cost to file an insurance claim if you’re considering doing so. You may save money if you repair it yourself rather than using insurance. Ensure that your RV is protected from the elements to lessen the likelihood of vandalism.