The City of Battle Ground is reminding residents to take simple steps to protect their vehicles as July marks Auto Theft Prevention Month.
In a joint social media post with the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority, the city encouraged drivers to make vehicle security part of their daily routine. Officials said taking a few moments to secure a vehicle can help prevent hours of stress and frustration later.
“Prevention starts with you,” the post stated.
Officials reminded drivers to always lock their vehicles, remove their key fobs and consider using a Faraday pouch to help prevent signal theft. According to the prevention authority, many vehicle thefts happen because doors are left unlocked or keys are left inside.
A locked vehicle is considered the first line of defense. Drivers are also urged to take key fobs with them rather than leaving them inside a vehicle. For vehicles with keyless entry or push-button start systems, officials recommend using a Faraday pouch, which blocks electronic signals and helps prevent thieves from cloning or hacking a key fob signal.
The message highlighted that small habits can make a major difference in reducing auto theft.
“Small habits lead to big protection,” the post stated. “Let’s make auto theft prevention second nature this month.”
