With the warm summer season upon us, auto owners across the nation are being exploited by car thieves. It hard to believe but apparently leaving our windows open in our cars does not only help to keep our black leather seats from turning into branding irons on our legs but it also serves as an invitation for thieves to steal our belongings …or worse… our entire car.

July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and in good SmartSecurityPeople.com fashion, we would like to celebrate by providing you with the following tips for keeping your cars and belongings safe during the summer months.

• Lock and Load - Always lock your car when your vehicle is unattended, and remember to set alarms or other anti-theft devices every time you get out. Close windows tightly, and don’t forget the sunroof.
• Watch Those Wheels - Thieves are targeting tires and rims. Invest in locking lug nuts and park in your garage whenever possible.
• Out of Sight - Keep all personal belongings, including a GPS, iPods, cell phones and other valuables, out of sight. (Also, don’t forget your change…)
• Kill-Switch - Protect your vehicle from being started by a thief by having a mechanic install a concealed kill-switch.
• Double Duty - Add a second layer of protection to your vehicle by using a steering wheel locking device, a steering column protector or an alarm with a visible indicator.
• Keep Watch And Report Crime- Help your neighborhood by noting and reporting any suspicious activity and writing down descriptions, license plate numbers and other helpful information. If you know anything about auto theft, chop shops, carjacking or insurance fraud report it day or night to your local police department.

For those that are curious to see what the top ten stolen cars were in 2007 (as reported by National Insurance Crime Bureau), the following list may be helpful:

1. Honda Civic (1995)
2. Honda Accord (1991)
3. Toyota Camry (1989)
4. Ford F-150 (1997)
5. Chevrolet C/K 1500 (1994)
6. Acura Integra (1994)
7. Dodge Ram Pickup (2004)
8. Nissan Sentra (1994)
9. Toyota Pickup (1988)
10. Toyota Corolla (2007)

The NICB study confirms that theft of older model vehicles has remained constant for the past several years.  Thieves continue to target these vehicles because they provide the best market for stolen vehicle parts. So, if you own one of the models listed above, you may want to think about trading it in or being extra cautious about leaving your car unsecured. However, if you don’t like your car, I guess leaving the keys in it and parking it in a sketchy part of town may help jump start your path to a new/used car.

NICB also tracks car thefts by state. You can see the top ten car models being stolen in your state by clicking here.

We hope our readers at SmartSecurityPeople.com enjoy this information. If you have other car safety tips that you would like to share, please be sure to do so in the comments section.