With the weekend approaching, I imagine many of you are organizing plans for leisurely excursions like a hike at Shelby Farms or a visit to the Zoo or Overton Park. If you live, work, or play in Memphis, your vehicle is part of your security plan too.

A lot of people think of “security” as just alarms, cameras, and locks on the building. But in Memphis, the driveway, parking lot, and curb line matter too.

Whether you’re at home, at work, at the gym, or running a quick errand, here are a few simple ways to make your vehicle a harder target:

Memphis Vehicle Security Quick Check 1. Lock the doors. Every time. Even in your own driveway. 2. Don’t leave bags, laptops, tools, or firearms visible inside the vehicle. 3. Never leave a spare key or fob in the car. 4. At home, make sure driveway areas are well lit and visible at night. 5. If you have cameras, confirm they actually cover the driveway, street parking, or business lot clearly enough to be useful. 6. Business owners: check that employee/customer parking areas are not blind spots after dark. 7. Turn on app alerts for motion, intrusion, or camera activity where appropriate. 8. If something feels off in a parking area, trust that instinct and relocate.

A lot of vehicle crime is opportunistic. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to make your car, truck, or fleet vehicle look like more trouble than it’s worth. Whether you're at home or at work, sometimes it is as simple as making sure all the other vehicles in the area appear more attractive or an easier target than your car.