While owning a new or used hybrid Toyota is a great way to help the environment and stay green, sadly there is a down side to owning a car. Occasionally, people will try to break in to it or even steal the vehicle. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to make your car less of a target.

Believe it or not, the easiest thing you can do is to lock your car. Many thieves spot a car and simply try the handle. While there are people who will break the window of a hybrid Toyota to get inside, most people aren’t that brave. It’s loud, and it makes a mess. Not only that. It can trigger an alarm system. If the door is open or the window is down, however, they can just open the door and get inside.

It’s also important to keep valuable items out of sight. If you have a mobile phone, a laptop, or even CDs easily visible, it may be worth a thief’s time to shatter a window and snag the items. It won’t take them long, but it’s worth the risk to them because they know there will be a payoff. Take it from your Toyota dealer—if you must leave those items in your hybrid Toyota, keep them out of sight, or better yet, in the trunk of the vehicle.

If your hybrid Toyota is broken into or stolen, be sure to report it to the authorities right away. The sooner you tell the police, the sooner you can have them keep an eye out for it. Not only that, but most insurance companies will not process a claim without a police report on file.

It’s important to keep your valuables and your vehicle safe, so take the time to lock the doors and hide your valuables. By making your car less of a target you are more likely to find your car, and your possessions, safe and sound right where you left them.