84% of all small businesses have at least one registered business vehicle.
As a small business owner, the financial cost of dealing with a stolen car can be detrimental to your business. Even if you have vehicle theft insurance, you still have to factor in the costs associated with any business interruptions caused by the theft. If you use your vehicle to deliver products or sell to customers, a theft could put your business production back weeks.
Keep reading to discover a few simple ways you can prevent car theft and protect your small business assets.
Encourage Employees to Remove Belongings
The first step of car theft prevention is to deter thieves from breaking into your car in the first place. When choosing a vehicle to steal, many thieves look for added value, such as the items inside the vehicle.
Before you let your employees drive the company vehicle, have them sign an agreement that they won’t leave personal or business property inside the vehicle.
This includes:
- Purses and wallets
- Cell phones and laptops
- Backpack or briefcase
- Shopping bags or business packages
In addition, your employees should never leave the keys in the vehicle. Even if they are making a quick stop to drop off a package, require them to take the keys out of the vehicle.
Get the Windows Tinted
Does your business regularly use this vehicle to deliver products? It may not be possible to empty the vehicle every time you make a stop as there will always be a few valuable packages inside the vehicle. If this is the case for your business, you can keep these items out of view with window tinting.
These window tinting solutions make it hard to see inside the vehicle, which improves safety, security, and privacy. In addition, with window tinting, you’ll provide UV protection to your products and your employees. Not to mention, it makes for an overall sleeker look for the vehicle.
This is one of the easier security measures you can take to protect your products and your vehicles from theft.
Require Employees to Always Lock Doors and Roll-Up Windows
Another easy way to prevent car theft is to ensure your business vehicle doesn’t become an easy target. Thieves will look for vehicles that are easy to access so that they can make a quick getaway without gathering attention. This means that a vehicle with unlocked doors or rolled-down windows is the perfect target.
When you have your employees agree to remove belongings from the vehicle, also require them to always lock and roll up the windows. If the vehicle has an auto-lock feature, make sure this is always active in case an employee was to forget.
For extra assurance, put a sticker near the ignition reminding the driver to lock the doors and roll-up windows before exiting the vehicle.
Put Your Business Identification on the Vehicle
Car thieves are also looking for vehicles that won’t be easy to identify by police if stolen. Common car models that don’t have any unique identifiers are much more likely to get stolen than a car with a custom paint job. As a car theft deterrent, place your business identification on the vehicle.
You can have your logo painted on the side of the vehicle or put a bumper sticker on the vehicle with your business’s name. Either way, you’ll have extra information to provide the police in case your vehicle is stolen. Just make sure whatever way you choose to customize your vehicle, it’s not something that’s easily removable, such as a magnet.
In addition to protecting your vehicle, this is also a great way to market your business name and services. Add a phone number and website to the vehicle and drive some traffic to your business.
Install Lights, Security Camera in Parking Lot
If your vehicle is parked in the same spot overnight, make sure the business parking lot is secure.
A dark parking lot provides the perfect conditions for a thief to steal your vehicle without anyone noticing. Make sure that you have automatic lights set up at the entrance and exit of the parking lot. You’ll also want a light directly over your parking spots so the vehicles are well-lit.
It doesn’t hurt to also add a security camera in your parking lot to gather evidence in case something is stolen. If you aim the camera on the parking lot exit, you’ll record any vehicle thieves along with anyone who was visiting your business. With this, you can protect more than just your vehicles.
Consider Anti-Theft Devices
There are several anti-theft devices you can add on to your vehicle if you do business in an area with a high crime rate.
The most popular device is a steering wheel lock. These work by locking the steering wheel in place, making it difficult or impossible for the thief to drive away. The locks on these devices are hard to bypass, meaning the thief will have to work harder and longer to steal your vehicle.
Other anti-theft devices include tracking systems, extra security alarms, and tire locks.
Make Sure You Have Car Theft Insurance
Your last protection against vehicle thefts as a business owner is car theft insurance. This is often an extra add-on to your existing business vehicle insurance coverage.
This insurance will help cover the cost of a vehicle replacement if the vehicle is stolen and destroyed. In addition, it can help cover the cost of any products that were inside the vehicle. If you had to rent a vehicle to conduct business after a theft, this insurance can reimburse your business for those costs as well.
While no business wants to deal with a stolen vehicle, it’s best to be prepared financially just in case it was to happen.
Prevent Car Theft and Protect Your Business Assets
After reading this article, you know have a better understanding of how to prevent car theft and protect your business assets.
Start by making sure all your employees hide their belongings and lock the vehicle. Then, add business identification, tint the windows, and equip anti-theft devices. Finally, protect yourself in case theft does occur by having car theft insurance.
Looking for more ways to protect your business? Be sure to browse the rest of this site for the best business advice.
