A carport serves many of the same functions as a garage, but it does not necessarily provide the same level of security for the car contained within. While your car will be shielded from the worst of the weather and the elements, it will not be completely out of view in the same way it would be inside a garage. Unfortunately, this can leave the vehicle more open to theft or vandalism. While your third-party car insurance may cover you if something does happen, the best car insurance is to prevent an unwanted incident from occurring in the first place.
Lighting
Criminals don’t generally like to attract attention, and sensor lights can be an effective way of dissuading intruders from entering your carport with sinister intentions. Keeping the attacheddriveway lit overnight, or having motion-sensitive lighting present in the surrounding area may also act as a deterrent. Prospective car thieves are unlikely to want to draw attention to their activities, and a shining a light on them is likely to do just that.
Fake Security Cameras
Genuine security cameras are quite expensive. However, a number of retailers sell artificial security cameras, which provide the illusion that your carport is under constant surveillance – and that anyone who’s lurking aroundis likely to be caught on camera.
Leave Valuables Elsewhere
Leaving valuables in plain sight in your car is a sure-fire way to attract unwanted attention. The same applies for valuables in your carport. Items such as lawnmowers, power tools, or other potentially valuable items should not be stored alongside your car. Preferably, they should be stored in enclosed areas, such as garden sheds.
In case it’s absolutely necessary that valuable items need to be stored in the carport, make sure that they are concealed beneath a tarpaulin or similar covering. If possible, secure them with some sort of padlock. An item that looks difficult to steal will not be a favourable target for a thief who wants to get in and out quickly.
Beware of the Dog
If you have a pet dog, it’s important that potential intruders know about it. Signs should be prominently displayed, indicating that you have a dog present that can (and will) cause difficulty for intruders.
Even if you don’t own one, signage indicating that you own a large and/or aggressive breed of dog can still be of some value in discouraging would-be intruders. While some thieves may be willing to take the risk that the sign is only a bluff, it’s a risky bluff to call. Most thieves are unlikely to want to risk serious injury on the vague chance that there might be something worth stealing.
Adding walls
Adding fabric or tarpaulin ‘walls’ to the sides of the carport may also provide some additional security. If potential thieves can’t see what’s stored within – and it looks like it will be difficult to find out – then they might not see it as a valid prospect.
Unfortunately, there are a number of downsides to this approach. The walls are unlikely to be anywhere near as durable as normal garage walls, can be fiddly to install, and they also have the potential to look visually unappealing, detracting from the overall look of your house. Whether or not you feel the downsides are worthwhile, will be a matter of personal circumstances and preference.
While they offer more obvious protection, garages are not always possible, or practical, to include as part of your home. Carports are a preferable option to parking without any protection, or on the street. With a few simple modifications, like the ones above, you can render them a much less appealing option for opportunistic criminals.
