CREDIT: KERRA SEAY
Don't leave valuables in sight in your car and always lock up, trust us this is better than having to pay for a brand new window or replacing all contents of a wallet.

The following vehicle security tips are timeless and they don’t only apply to when you’re on Fanshawe’s campus.

As you wander the cosmos in your four (or more) wheeled car, it is important to remember that the windows are glass and they work for looking in as well as out. Once you park your vehicle don’t leave your wallet or purse in your passenger area, ever. It’s better if you don’t leave it at all but if you have to leave it, leave it in the trunk. That, however, takes a little planning. Put your valuables in the trunk before you drive anywhere. That way when you arrive you just get out of the car and lock it up. Also, don’t broadcast where your valuables are.

While we’re on the topic of locking the vehicle, always lock your vehicle. Here are a couple of reasons:

• It keeps your stuff as your stuff.

• If your vehicle is stolen and the insurance company discovers it wasn’t locked, they may not cover it. That may include the cost of the vehicle, or any damage done by the thieves.

• Locking your car includes all the doors being locked and ensuring all the windows are completely up.

Every time you arrive at your car do a quick check of the exterior to ensure there is no damage and all the tires are ok. I use a quick rhyme, one tire, two tires, three tires, four; it sounds like a Dr. Seuss rhyme but it sticks with you after you do it a couple times and it works. It is better to deal with a low tire or a flat in the parking lot than have a blowout while driving.

Have your vehicle serviced regularly. It costs a bit of money but being broken down on the side of the road is no fun at all.

Try and keep your fuel at or above a quarter of a tank. During the fall and winter changes in temperature can cause condensation of water in the tank. Add to that, the older the tank, the more likely there may be some small pieces of debris in the tank that could get sucked in to the fuel line causing a blockage and then breakdown. Keep fuel in your vehicle.

If you have questions about this or any other crime prevention concerns, please feel free to contact Steve Hartwick with Campus Security Services either by phone at 519-452-4430 ext. 4929 or e-mail at shartwick@fanshawec.ca