Your Glovebox Is a Billboard. Stop Advertising.

Before you lock the door, circle your car once. Look through each window. What do you see? A charging cable draped over the console. A jacket on the back seat that might hide a laptop. Sunglasses on the dash. Thieves don't break in hoping; they break in knowing. Remove the evidence.

Everyone hides valuables in the glovebox. That makes it the first place a thief checks. If you must store something in the car, use the trunk before you park, not after. Opening the trunk on the street broadcasts that you're storing something worth protecting.

Relay attacks work by amplifying your key fob's signal from inside your house to a thief standing next to your car. Store keys in a signal-blocking pouch or a metal drawer, not on a hook by the front door. Some cars allow you to disable passive entry — check your owner's manual. The inconvenience of pressing a button is smaller than the inconvenience of a stolen car.

Well-lit, high-traffic spots near building entrances are safer than dark corners near exits. When parallel parking, back in tight to the curb — it makes sliding underneath harder. In lots, park with the trunk against a wall or another vehicle if possible. Every obstacle adds seconds, and seconds matter.

Some drivers remove registration from the glovebox to prevent thieves from knowing their address. Others keep it because a missing registration invites police suspicion. There's no perfect answer. If you remove it, store a copy on your phone. If you keep it, accept the trade-off. The best compromise is simply not having anything else in the car worth taking.