Having your car broken into is one of the most stressful things you can experience as a driver, and if you’ve ever had it happen to you, you know how anxiety-inducing and frustrating it can be. Between the initial shock of having your property violated, you’re also potentially facing a huge financial burden after you factor in the cost of any vehicle repair or replacement of stolen items. No driver wants to be the victim of a car break-in, and you’re probably looking for ways you can prevent this from ever happening to you. And while is no way to guarantee your car will never be broken into, there are some steps you can take to help protect your car and yourself.

Where you park your car can greatly lessen your chances of experiencing a break-in. The best places to park will be in covered and well-lit areas away from the street, like parking garages and decks. And if you need to do street parking, always go for the best-lit part of the street closest to your destination.

Keeping your doors locked may seem like an obvious step in preventing a break-in, but you’d be surprised how many break-ins happen simply because someone forgot to lock their car doors or roll up their windows. Many potential thieves won’t want to go through the trouble of smashing a window to get into your car, so double and triple checking that your doors are locked is a great way to help prevent a car break-in.

When your valuables are hidden away from view of the windows, you’re less likely to have potential thieves come looking in your car and break in! And while it’s best to always have your valuables on you at all times, you sometimes need to store things in your car. So in order to best protect your items, make sure they are covered up and stored either under a seat or in the trunk so that they’re completely away from view.

Being the victim of a car break-in can be stressful, but by following these tips you can greatly lessen your chances of it happening to you, and keep your car and your possessions safe!