Reduce the chance of automobile vandalism

Aside from your house, your car is probably one of the biggest purchases you make; therefore, it's important to keep it in good shape. It's frustrating to walk out of the shopping mall only to find that someone has vandalized your car – by painting it or keying it.

Here are some ways to help you reduce the chance of automobile vandalism

• If possible, park in a closed, locked garage.
• Lock your car and use a club and/or an immobilizer. (This will help to eliminate vandals who are looking for a quick payday from the cash in your ash tray.
• Be discerning about where you park your car – An area that has a lot of graffiti might mean that your car is a blank canvas waiting to be tagged.
• Understand that there are different kinds of vandals out there: There are vindictive vandals who will key your car because you parked too close to theirs or because your car is nicer than theirs, and there are thrill-seeking vandals who just vandalize things for some laughs. You need to keep both types of vandals in mind when parking your car.
• Choose parking lots that are monitored by CCTV or security. Even if these cost a little more, the few dollars of parking fee will more than cover for the peace of mind that you'll have (compared to the cost and inconvenience of having to get your vandalized car repaired).
• Park as close to a source of light as possible. A street light, for example, will help to keep your car illuminated and can deter vandals who are looking for some quick laughs.
• Park close to where other people are walking around. Vandals are less likely to act when they could be spotted by others.
• In a shopping mall parking lot, don't park too close to the store or too far away. If you part half-way to three-quarters of the way from the store, you'll hit the "sweet spot" of the parking lot: Close enough to other people so you reduce the thrill-seekers; far enough from other people so you reduce the vindictive vandals.
• Avoid controversial bumper stickers that could invite a response – such as political or religious bumper stickers that could be viewed negatively by others.
• Repair vandalism as quickly as possible (even if it doesn't appear to impact the integrity of your car's body) because some vandalism can attract other vandalism.

If your car is vandalized, assess the damage as soon as possible. A car that has been spray painted doesn't look good but can still be driven for a while. A car that has been keyed might have to be looked at by an autobody shop sooner because the paint could be scratched off, exposing the metal and risking a foothold for rust.

If your car is vandalized, bring it to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We can take a look at the damage and help you understand what needs to be fixed right away and what can wait (if you choose to wait). A quick visit to Boyd as soon as the vandalism happens can help you to restore the value of your vehicle and protect it from rust