Most people have in the back of their minds some concern about their vehicles being involved in an accident or unexpected breakdown—major inconveniences that leave many people across the country stranded without a vehicle every day. Though the likelihood is often ignored, theft represents another major threat to vehicles owners. In fact, www.nicb.org reports that a vehicle is stolen in the United States every 25.5 seconds—a telling statistic that reminds us why we should take precautions to protect our vehicles against thieves who are waiting for the moment we let our guards down. Here we examine some precautions vehicle owners can take to reduce the likelihood that their vehicle will be targeted by a thief:

-Never leave keys in the ignition. Neglect of this seemingly obvious piece of advice results in numerous effortless car thefts across the country. Even a quick thirty second run into a convenience store or your home is ample time for your car to disappear into the hands of a thief. Always take your keys with you when you leave your vehicle.

-Lock all vehicle doors, all the time. Simply locking the doors to your vehicle may be enough to deter a thief who is looking for an easy target. Keeping vehicle doors locked is advised not only when your vehicle is parked, but when you are driving as well to protect against carjacking. If a person approaches your vehicle while you are in it, drive away immediately.

-Keep windows closed completely when parked. Even a slightly open window can be enough to give a thief easy access to your vehicle, and may be the simple cue that attracts a thief to your vehicle in the first place.

-Keep valuables out of your vehicle, or at least out of view. If you must leave valuable items in your vehicle—or even items that may appear valuable to a thief—make sure to lock them in the trunk or otherwise out of sight. Anything that could entice a thief to target your vehicle should be considered a valuable item. Purses, wallets, jewelry, electronics, briefcases, laptops, shopping bags or other containers that may be perceived to hold valuable items should never be left in clear view from outside the vehicle. Hiding valuables also includes removing the face of a detachable face CD player if you have one.

-Utilize an alarm system. An alarm system can be a valuable deterrent to a thief seeking an easy target. A wide range of vehicle alarms are available, from the familiar audible alarm system to modern tracking systems that provide authorities with information about your vehicle's location in the event that it is reported stolen.

-Park in well lighted, heavily traveled areas. Car thieves seek out environments conducive to committing their crimes unnoticed, such as poorly lit areas with little to no passersby. Parking your vehicle in a well lit, populated location can reduce the chances that a thief will target your vehicle for theft.

Precautions to prevent your vehicle from being stolen should not be overlooked. Car thieves are driven by the profits they can make by selling your vehicle, disassembling and selling its individual parts or the possibility of using your vehicle as an instrument to commit other crimes. Identity theft is another viable threat when a thief obtains access to all of the documents and information within your vehicle. Complying with the simple precautions above can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim of car theft.