Search Results for: blog protecting your vehicle from thieves

Travel Warning: Hide Your GPS Units

What car thieves really want is a free set of wheels, but apparently they will settle for expensive GPS units. Just ask my neighbor. He was parked on a busy street, in a well-lit area and ran into a store to pick up a box of battery packs. When he returned less than 15 minutes later he found his car had been hacked into and his $750 GPS unit was gone. Yes, you could wag your finger and make the comment that he shouldn’t have left the unit exposed in his vehicle. But he figured he was in a well-traveled … Continue reading →

Car Thieves Give Me A Break

I considered titling this blog: “My Spring Break Travel Woes,” but decided to save it for a future posting. We just returned from a spring break that was… well; let’s just say I learned many valuable travel lessons in last two weeks. For example, when borrowing a relative’s vehicle (that doesn’t have keyless entry) it’s a good idea to place the key in your purse or pocket before heading into the mall. Last week in a flurry of activity of getting kids unbuckled, out of the way of oncoming traffic, and into a mall I was unfamiliar with (during an … Continue reading →

What Car Thieves Really Want From Your Vehicle

I’ve written about car theft in previous blogs, but have never touched on the fact that some thieves are just as happy stealing parts of your car as they are driving away with the entire set of wheels. Most of us think that the criminals are after our car stereos and other high tech gear, but according to the American Automobile Association, these days car thieves are after certain parts located underneath your vehicle. Experts from the popular auto club say thieves are after your car’s catalytic converter. You may not know what it looks like, but you would certainly … Continue reading →

Protecting Your Vehicle From Thieves

When my mom called to tell me my brother’s car had been broken into I was stunned. Thieves not only took his car stereo, his backpack, a duffel bag, and other personal items, they also managed to strip part of his car in broad daylight while he surfed on Oahu’s North Shore. A few days later she called again to tell me that my other brother’s Honda had been stolen from right outside of his Honolulu apartment building. Hawaii is notorious for auto thefts (can you tell). So why am I sharing my brother’s misfortunes with you. For starters it … Continue reading →

Protecting Your Home From Burglars Part 2

In “Protecting Your Home From Burglars Part One” I addressed simple ways you could protect yourself from thieves. Most of them dealt with the installation of locks and other safety devices. This blog will offer ways to discourage burglars from choosing your home as their next target. Sure, sturdy doors and expensive locks will help keep burglars out, but ideally you don’t want them to even get that far. Here are some ideas: · Maintain your trees and shrubs. Trim any shrubbery that blocks doors or windows. Also, cut tree limbs that could help a thief climb into windows. · … Continue reading →

Today’s Report on Dog-Napping

This morning while I ate breakfast and watched Today with my mom, they covered a story about the rise in dog-nappings. And they weren’t talking about dogs taking more naps, but dogs being kidnapped. Not for the Reasons I Expected Because they were showing purebred dogs I figured that dog snatchers were focusing on taking dogs that they hoped to get a ransom for. Not so. (Although some do take the dog, wait for a reward to be offered, and then say they’ve found it to claim the reward.) But they also had other reasons for nabbing dogs, such as: … Continue reading →

The Downside of Owning a Honda

Honda owners don’t need me to tell them that their vehicles are in high demand… among car thieves. In previous blogs I shared the sad tales of my Honda owner brother’s repeat rip offs. He’s learned his lesson the hard way and is now looking to get rid of his Honda and invest in a new Nissan Titan truck. And not a moment too soon. If you own a Honda or know someone who does then you might be interested in this next true story. Police in Yakima, Washington are currently investigating a case where 11 Hondas were stolen in … Continue reading →

Sunday Travel Funnies—When Life Gets Bad Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh

Happy Sunday… and welcome to this week’s installment of “Sunday Travel Funnies.” I decided to preface this week’s blog with a disclaimer: The following story is about a man who had the unthinkable happen—he had his car stolen twice in one day. Some of you who may not think that being the victim of a crime is a laughing matter, but wait until you read the entire blog before you rush to judgment. The victim’s reaction to an otherwise horrendous ordeal may surprise you. York Heiden lives in a north central Wisconsin city I called home the summer preceding my … Continue reading →

Robotic Parking in New York

Have you ever driven in New York City? It’s an experience you won’t soon forget. Have you ever tried parking your car in New York City? That’s also an experience one never forgets. The times I’ve been forced to park in the city I tend to walk away wondering if my car will be there when I return. I could pay someone else to deal with my vehicle, but I have visions of the scene from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” where two parking attendants take Cameron’s dad’s Ferrari on a joy ride (not that I own a Ferrari)… If you … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel: Tips To Consider Before You Hit The Highway

As we continue with our ongoing “Holiday Travel” series we turn our attention to the highways and bi-ways that you may be hitting on your way to spend Christmas at grandma’s house, or Hanukkah with Uncle Mel, or Kwanzaa with cousin Alicia. It goes without saying that the holidays are stressful enough without having to deal with travel disasters. So with that in mind before you buckle up and hit the road consider these tips designed to keep you safe this busy holiday travel season: 1. Know where you’re going. If you are flying to your aunt’s new home in … Continue reading →