Two Useful Car Accessories For You

Rims and tires

Criminals steal custom rims and tires because they can easily find customers for these car parts, says Calkins. They are also relatively easy to take, and rims alone can run $500 or more. "Thieves don't have to tow the car to take the tires. They can simply get a crew of people to come in and remove them within minutes," he says.

To discourage theft of these car parts, Calkins advises taking normal precautions like parking in well-lit areas and secure garages. He also suggests buying wheel locks, which are special lug-nut replacements that deter theft. A set of four retails for around $20.

Unsecured items

Loose gadgets that are left in cars, such as iPods, cell phones and laptops, are easy targets just as some attached car parts, says Ward. Most laptops alone cost at least $500, while cell phones and iPods can run well over $100, depending on the model.
And because they're not actually attached to the car, they probably wouldn't be covered under a car insurance policy if stolen, he says.
Unsecured items could be covered under homeowners insurance or renters insurance. Unfortunately, there may be a high deductible under the policy, and the value of the stolen property may not reach that threshold, says Ward.
The best advice is to prevent it from happening in the first place. "Keep unsecured items in a trunk or locked glove box, or leave them at home," says Ward.