No one wants to think about the possibility of their car getting stolen, but if you drive a luxury model like a BMW, you may find yourself the target of car thieves. What can you do to keep your BMW from getting stolen?

Don’t Make It Easy

While marketed as safer, more convenient and more secure, cars with keyless entry are disgustingly easy to break into. One series of tests looked at 237 models equipped with keyless entry. Of those vehicles, they were able to break into 230 of them using a relay device that augments the key fob’s signal, even when it’s not nearby. 

While BMW has taken steps to prevent this from working on their new models, don’t make it easy for potential thieves. Don’t leave your key fob in the car, and consider tossing it in the freezer or in a Faraday bag to make it impossible for thieves to use a relay device to steal your vehicle.

Lock Everything

This step might seem like common sense, but the statistics tend to indicate otherwise. According to one report, 50% of cars are unlocked when stolen, and 1 out of 8 have the keys in them.

Lock your car every single time you walk away, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Thieves aren’t looking to pick a lock or break a window if they can avoid it. They’re looking for an easy score, and what’s easier than someone who’s left their car unlocked with the keys in the ignition? 

Park It Indoors

The best thing you can do to protect your BMW from being stolen is to park it in a closed garage. LIke we said, car thieves are looking for an easy score. In most cases, they don’t want to add a breaking and entering charge to their rap sheet.

If your garage door isn’t working, getting stuck or making weird grinding noises when it opens, consider calling a professional to repair and maintain it. The garage door is the largest entryway into your home, and it’s essential to make sure it’s working correctly. 

Don’t Make It A Target

You wouldn’t walk into a wolf’s den with a steak around your neck, would you? Then why would you leave tempting morsels in your car while you’re not in it? Take all of your valuables out of your vehicle, including your wallet, phone, laptop and anything else that might be a tempting target. If you have to leave something nice in it, make sure you have a dash cam.

It takes almost no time for a thief to bust your window and make off with whatever you’ve left in the car, even if you have an alarm or anti-theft system. Don’t make your BMW a target by leaving valuables in plain sight.

Opt for a Manual Transmission

This idea sounds silly, but it’s more effective than you might think. In 2019, a group of carjackers attempted to steal a 1995 Honda Civic from a gas station. It should have been an easy snatch and grab — the car was unlocked, the engine running and the keys in the ignition. There was just one problem. 

None of the carjackers knew how to drive a stickshift. Therefore, when possible, opt for a manual transmission. It’s not foolproof but, with fewer people knowing how to drive a stickshift every year, it can reduce the chance that your BMW will disappear.

Be Prepared for Anything

While we can’t always prevent our BMWs from being stolen, we can take every possible step to reduce the possibility. Be prepared for anything, and you’ll never be surprised.