1. Avoid leaving your car parked for long hours in unfamiliar areas. Rather, use public transport to reach your destination. It will prove cheaper than suffering a car breaking/theft.

2. Park your car in well-lit, busy areas - resist the temptations of easier parking availability in lonely by-lanes.

3. Paid car parks are not theft-proof - but they provide some security against blatant attempts.

4. When leaving the car take a moment to physically check each door for locking. If your car has central locking, remember to lock your door.

5. When selecting a car stereo, go for one that is entirely removable or one where the control panel is detachable. These will be more expensive than fixed units - but you will buy some peace of mind. While leaving the car parked over long periods, remember to carry the entire stereo/control panel with you.

6. Get your car license plate number etched onto the windscreen, door windows and rear glasses. Since this helps identification when put up for sale by the thief, he will usually leave them alone.

7. People often tend to leave belongings behind in the car. In cars without a boot/covered storage area, such items are easily visible and invite the attention of thieves.
Possible counter measures can be:
a) Place belongings out of sight in the boot/covered storage area.

b) If you have to, leave belongings in innocuous looking plastic/paper bags behind. Carry briefcases, valuables, purses with you.

c) When a) and b) are not possible, and when places like theatres forbid briefcases and handbags, ingenious solutions are called for. A good place to stow briefcases and handbags out of sight is under the front seats! But do this before you arrive at your destination so that you are not seen hiding stuff under the seat.

8. Invest in some car security device in addition to basic door locks/central locking. Electronic alarms against unauthorised entry are popular in cities like Mumbai and Delhi. The national capital is also partial to devices that disable vital functions of the car (steering, brakes, accelerator, etc) on unauthorised usage.

9. With good security on your vehicle, your car keys may be the only way a thief can steal your car. Take good care of them, and hide the spare set away in your home.

10. Licenses, registration cards or other identifying papers that a thief could misuse should never be left in the car. This advice goes contrary to police requirements in most Indian cities which insist on original documents being available for inspection at all times. Clean photocopies of registration papers usually suffice.

These and other precautions may cost you some time and money. But this would be time and money well spent - when you compare it to the monetary loss, inconvenience and anger suffered when you are the victim of car breaking/theft. These precautions are no fail-safe guarantee against theft but they provide a level of deterrent that could divert the thief's attentions elsewhere to an easier target.