Protecting Your System and Yourself by Using Common Sense

The best deterrent of all is to keep car audio components and other valuables out of sight and give your system and your car a low profile. Although this may run counter to your plans for a flashy car audio system, the more you flaunt what you’ve got, the more your car becomes a target. Here are some tactics for keeping a low-key presence.

Keep it stock: One of the best ways to deter thieves is to have them think there’s nothing in your vehicle worth stealing, such as a stock audio system. If you don’t want an elaborate system but simply want better sound, keep the stock head unit intact and add aftermarket amplifiers and speakers. 

Keep it low-key: If you do install aftermarket speakers, keep them behind the stock speaker grilles, if you use the grilles that came with your after- market speakers and they include prominent logos that tell the world you have expensive speakers in your ride, switch them out for nonde-script grilles or remove or paint over the logos.

Keep it hidden: If you’re installing amplifiers or subwoofers in your vehicle, mount them in a place where they can’t be seen. This may be easier in a vehicle with a trunk, but even with hatchbacks or pickup trucks, you can employ methods to keep your components hidden. For example, many hatchbacks come with a factory cover. Use it. In pickups, cosmetic panels can be built to fit over and hide car audio components.

Keep it quiet: One sure way to let everyone know you have something worth stealing is to blast your system so that everyone, including car thieves, can hear it. While everyone likes to crank it up every now and then, just be aware of where you’re doing it and who is around. Crank it up close to home, and thieves will know where you park your car at night. You also don’t want to plaster your car with stickers from car audio manufacturers, which is like an advertisement for all the stuff you have inside that can be stolen.

Keep it safe: Park in well-lit places where lots of people pass by. For example, at a shopping mall or movie theater, try to park as close to the entrance as possible and under a light. Thieves hate attention and they hate for light to be shed on their dastardly deeds.