Snowmobiles Tempt Thieves — Here Are 3 Ways to Prevent Snowmobile Theft
With winter approaching, many outdoors enthusiasts are looking forward to hitting the trail on their snowmobiles. Although winter sports and recreation is all about having fun and enjoying the season, there are those who are tempted to commit a crime that can put a real damper on this time of year: snowmobile thieves.
Nearly 12 million people are processed through jails across the country in a given year. However, many thieves who target snowmobiles are never caught or charged. In one recent incident in Rochester Hills, Michigan, a woman reported her stolen snowmobile to police and provided them with the address of the thief. The snowmobile was found in the man’s garage, and was released pending further investigation.
Some criminals will steal a snowmobile for their own pleasure or to sell. Other times, thieves will try to steal valuable snowmobile parts. In a recent burglary and theft case, two employees stole copper sheeting and snowmobile parts from an employer in an attempt to sell the materials for scrap. Luckily, in this case, the criminals were apprehended and charged, and the snowmobile parts were returned to their owner.
But some snowmobile owners are not as fortunate when they experience a theft. Because snowmobiles can be easier to steal than automobiles and are oftentimes more valuable than other wintertime recreational equipment, many owners never get their vehicles back. In order to help prevent snowmobile theft, you should:
- Remove and store the ignition key
Believe it or not, most keys are stolen out of garages and have the keys still in the ignition. If a thief can’t locate the key, he or she may not even attempt to steal it because of the extra work involved.
- Secure your vehicle
Whether you park in a locked trailer, secured garage, or use cables or chains to attach to a tree, you will want to take steps to make sure no one can simply walk away with your vehicle. Don’t park at the top of a snow bank or leave your snowmobile unattended while you’re out. Even if you think it will be fine in your car park, anchor your snowmobile to something for extra security.
- Keep documents safe
In case of a theft, you’ll want to have legal proof that you own your snowmobile. Do not keep documents in a compartment on the vehicle — or if you need to, make a photocopy. If by chance your vehicle is still stolen after following the above tips, you’ll be able to prove your ownership to police and will come in handy if you have snowmobile insurance.
Follow these tips to keep your vehicle safe from thieves this season. You’ll want to enjoy your snowmobile for many winters to come.
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