Who said those baby monitors are only for babies? It seems like you can use them to prevent car thefts as well. This makes perfect sense. Any good baby monitor gives you the option to see and hear your baby while you are away.

So, why not just put one in your car? Chances are that if it gets stolen you’d know who did it and where it is. This would make life a lot easier for the police.

Not all car stealing is done when the owner is away or after dark. Some daring car theft moves actually happen when you are in the car. Though, this seems more like car hijacking than stealing.

Think of it as a scene from GTA. Someone puts a bottle between the fender and the wheel, so it would make a frighting sound when you start driving and then snatches the car when you stop to inspect it.

No car can run without gas (unless it’s electric). So, what’s a better way of preventing it from getting stolen if not by disabling the fuel pump every time you leave it? While this solution requires some technical know-how, we find it quite useful and ingenious.

The best thing to do is just to take your car to a garage and ask your mechanic to do it. It’s sure better than taking the risk.

Using a special bar to lock your steering wheeling isn’t a new invention. It’s been with us at least since the ‘90s, and possibly even sooner. We are not sure how effective it is, since a skilled thief would probably find a workaround.

However, the point is not to delay them but to just make sure they understand that this car is not worth the hassle. Hopefully, they would just give up and move to the next car in line.

We obviously didn’t mean it literally, because you can still imagine that there is a car parked beneath the cover. However, stealing a car is all about the time it takes to do it.

Stealing a car usually takes under one minute. Any longer than that, and chances are that they would simply give up on the idea of doing that. So, why not delay them by putting a cover? It takes a while to remove it.

This is probably the best device you could hope for when trying to prevent your car from getting stolen. This little thing prevents your car’s engine from starting unless you disable it. Usually, you’ll need to put in a password to disable it.

We bet car thieves wouldn’t waste time trying to figure out how to unlock it. However, they are quite right about installing it. It does require some technical knowledge, so it’s best to ask your mechanic.

Sometimes people don’t intend to steal. However, all it takes is something to trigger them. This could be a coat, a wallet, or even a phone lying innocently on the front seat of the car.

While most people would tell you that they never leave their valuables in their car, mistakes happen. So, do yourselves a favor and put them away in the trunk — better yet, avoid keeping any sort of valuable item in your car.

This is really obvious, at least to us. Parking your car at some dark spot is a bad idea. In fact, spending time in an unlit or poorly-lit place is a bad idea in general.

A lot of bad things can happen when you are making your way to the car or getting out of it when it’s dark. So, obviously, thieves would go for these cars. We recommend that you park your car in a well-lit place.

Having a cool stereo system in your car sounds like a 2000s throwback. However, for those of you who still use them and have them installed in your car, we recommend your pay attention to what we are about to share.

Just remove the outer cover of your fancy stereo system. No thief would waste time figuring out what’s wrong with it. Also, they are probably not going to waste time searching your car around for it.

We mentioned putting your valuable things in the trunk, so they won’t attract attention. But, what if your trunk is full because you just went to do grocery shopping and you have a small car?

In this case, we recommend you put all your valuable things under your seat. You know what they say, “out of sight, out of mind.” In other words, if they can’t see them, they probably won’t bother with your car.

This may sound a little odd to those who are not well versed in a vehicle’s mechanical aspects, but apparently, this is possible. You can have a removable wheel installed in your car instead of the regular wheel that comes with your car.

You can’t steal a car if you don’t have a way to steer it. They have a point there, however, about coming to a meeting or a date with a steering wheel in your hand.

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While it may be tempting to keep a pair of spare keys in your glove compartment, center console, door, or in the change tray, this is a bad idea. This is basically inviting a thief to steal your car.

Under no circumstances should you leave your spare car keys in the car itself. In fact, we recommend that you keep them at home or at your office. Otherwise, you risk a lot here.

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the words “motion sensor”? We think of a bank-grade security system — Fort Knox style. You may not know this, but a simple motion sensor with light is quite easy to purchase.

This means that whenever someone is lurking around your car, the light will turn on. That should be enough to stave off potential car thieves, don’t you think?

Breaking into a car, unlike stealing it, usually happens because someone saw an opportunity and decided to exploit it. This means that you shouldn’t leave anything in the open. Yes, this includes your small change too.

While this may seem insignificant to you, a few coins can be a lot to someone who has nothing to eat and therefore won’t hesitate to smash your car window to get them. Just put them away. Preferably, somewhere no one can spot them.

We know what you are thinking: having tinted windows would actually attract car thieves since they would think that this is some expensive car. But, we just wish to remind you that car thieves don’t just steal random cars.

They typically go for certain models that are worth more on the market. So, do yourselves a favor. If you really want to keep things in your car, just tint your windows so no one would be able to look inside.

This may seem like something from a movie, but it actually happens from time to time. Some thieves may place a GPS tracker on your vehicle. This is probably done with more expensive vehicles.

The reason is for them to be able to learn your itinerary. They would identify the best time to steal your car and strike when you are running an errand or at some business meeting. Check under your car from time to time to see if there’s anything that should be there.

This should be obvious, but, in case it isn’t, we just want to let you know that you should never keep personal documents in your car. We mean anything that might reveal where you live.

Sometimes, stealing your car isn’t enough, and a car thief might also turn out to be a home burglar — you know, as a side business. So, be careful as to where you leave those sensitive documents.

Every modern car comes with an alarm, unless there is something wrong with it or if you’ve specifically ordered a car without one. Regardless, you should just put a sticker to make sure everyone knows that your car has an alarm system — even if it’s not the case.

This is just another way to repel thieves. There is a chance of course that they would choose to ignore it and take the risk, but it’s worth having it anyway.

While this isn’t much of a tip, since it’s really a matter of choice, we still felt like you should know this. According to statistics, some car brands get stolen a lot more often than others.

There isn’t a particular reason behind it. It’s like favoring one brand of cereal over the other. Cars get stolen so they can be later sold. It’s no wonder thieves would want to go for the most popular car models.

Car alarms tend to be cranky. Everything seems to trigger them. At some point, people just get annoyed and disable them. This obviously a bad idea, since this is a major line of defense in the war against car thieves.

But, in case you did decide to disable them because your neighbor threatens to call the cops the next time he hears it blaring, just use an alarm system that pages you (or sends you a text message) every time it’s activated.

This is an old trick used by parking enforcement agents to ensure that you pay your parking ticket. But, who said that you can’t use it to actually protect your car from thefts? The whole point of this device is to make sure you wouldn’t be able to move your car.

Now, this is exactly what a car thief would want to do with your car. So, why not make it harder or virtually impossible for them to do it?

In an expert’s hands, even the simplest car alarm system can turn into an effective car thief repellent. It all depends, of course, on who is doing the installation. Usually, the people in the retail chain store are not trained to do it in expert ways.

They would probably follow some standard procedure just to get you off their backs. If you go to someone who actually knows what they are doing, you would make it a lot harder for car thieves to get to it.

This next tip probably applies more to older car models that feature door lock knobs or pins (like in the photo). Apparently, there is a way to open the door by using a string to lift the knob or pin. Truth is, there isn’t much to do about it.

While you can always make sure your windows are closed, that would only buy you a few extra seconds before they may decide to break the window. It’s best to get a newer car model in this case.

Just like you should never leave your car in a dark parking spot, you should also strive to leave it in a busy area. If possible, leave it in a parking lot that has attendants or surveillance cameras.

Thieves would usually avoid guarded parking spots. The more foot traffic the better. This means that cars get a lot of attention but in a good way. People coming and going means less chance of experiencing car theft.

This is something that probably many of us do, without even noticing. Leaving the keys in the ignition while running an errand. This may not even sound like a problem, but then again, car theft is an opportunity crime.

Why just invite trouble? No errand is worth the risk. We recommend that you just park your car, turn off the engine and take the keys with you. Better safe than sorry, right?

This is quite clever. Inserting a coin in the driver’s door handle to prevent it from locking is something really inventive. However, since we side with the victims, we have to warn you about this method.

This is why you should check that everything is in order after you have locked the car. We recommend just trying the door handle. If it opens after you have locked the car, you know there is a problem.

This is more relevant to pickup truck owners or similar work vehicles. Keeping toolboxes or just work tools at the back of the truck is a bad idea. While car thieves may not want your old shabby truck, they would be happy to borrow (indefinitely) some of the tools you keep at the back.

From air hammers to drill heads, anything goes. Considering the fact that these tools are often worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, keep them somewhere safe.

Technological devices often come with a whole bunch of identifying markers. This means that if you want to keep them in your car, you should do everything you can to hide those cables. Otherwise, someone might break your car window just to get to them.

Tinted windows, or hiding the cables underneath your seat are just two ways you can do it. In general, it’s best to avoid keeping technological devices in your car.

Some safety measures would only help you after the fact. If you keep expensive tools in your truck or car, you better make sure you write your name and phone number with a permeant marker or nonremovable paint.

This would obviously make them less desirable for stealing, since what’s the point of trying to sell a tool that clearly belongs to someone and be easily identified. There is also the option of just locking your tools in steel cabinets.

Keeping registration and insurance information in the vehicle is a bad idea. While it may seem logical since these are the kind of documents that you would need in the event of a car accident, imagine what would happen if your car gets stolen along with these.

Someone can just pretend that they owe your car and sell it — just like that. So, we recommend that you just keep a digital copy of those documents on your smartphone.

Newer car models have this unique feature that closes the car windows after you lock your car, even if you forgot to do it yourself. However, we would recommend that you check that all windows have been closed before walking away from it.

You know, just to be on the safe side. A skilled car thief will exploit every opportunity, including a half-open window, to get into your car.

Though this sounds like some advanced alien technology from the latest sci-fi movie, it’s not. Apparently, signals can be “hijacked” from a distance. While this requires some extra thinking on behalf of the thief, it’s still fairly easy to accomplish.

To avoid getting your car keys signal hijacked, just use a faraday pouch. This is a special pouch that is layered with strips of metal that block signals. Remember to put your car keys in one after you’ve locked your car.

Closing your sunroof won’t only prevent water damage to your car’s interior space, but it will also prevent it from being stolen. While this may sound obvious to most of you, you’d be surprised to learn how many people actually forget to do this one little thing before they lock their car and walk away from it.

A semi-open sunroof is an open-ended invitation to a thief to steal your car. Enjoy the fresh air but also make sure to close it before you exit the vehicle.

Sometimes car theft isn’t about the car itself, but about its parts. In this case, license plates can be a valuable commodity. A stolen license plate can be fitted on another car that is used to commit a crime.

Our advice is to use security screws to make sure that your license plates remain firm in their place. You can also use powerful epoxy glue. Just do what you have to make sure no one can detach your license plate.

Stealing car parts is a common thing. Yes, even wheels get stolen from parked cars. Just imagine finishing a meeting and finding out that your car has been stripped of its wheels.

While we think that this is something that would probably happen at night, who knows really? Car thieves are audacious these days. We recommend that you use wheel nuts to secure your wheels. You can just park very close to the curb, that would make it harder for a thief to access the wheel in the first place.

Sometimes, the best way to avoid a vehicle from being stolen (apart from taking all the reasonable precautions) is to park it in such a way that would it make harder for a thief to escape.

Car theft is all about speed. While car thieves would go for a that is easy to break into, they would also assess how much it takes for them to make the actual escape with it.

If you have ever parked military vehicles, you know that they should always be parked with their front facing the road. This is to ensure an easy rollout in case you are called in to respond.

If you do the same with your civilian vehicle, you’d make life a lot easier for car thieves. So, another way to make their lives harder is to park in reverse. They wouldn’t waste time on a car that is parked like that.

Leaving suction cup marks on your windshield is a bad idea. This signals to a potential thief that you have some precious pieces of technology in your car, like a satellite navigation system or road cameras.

Other than removing those items after you’ve parked your car, you should also clear the windshield. Make sure you remove those suction cup marks from your windshield too. Don’t give them any reason to break into your car.

Don’t park in the same spot twice. While this tip may sound like something straight out of a spy movie, it actually makes a lot of sense. If you are driving an expensive car, chances are that you will be under surveillance for a couple of days before they would make a move.

In that case, constantly changing your routine would make you unpredictable. This would make it much harder for them to steal your car.

This is just a general tip, or more like a summary of all the tips we have provided you with on this list. Keeping your car safe from theft is not about picking one tip and following it.

You should strive to apply as many of them as you possibly can. The more precautions you take, the higher the chances are that you will be able to safeguard your car from theft.

As you might notice in TV shows and movies that depict biker gangs, members often go by nicknames that turn the spotlight on their experiences, pasts, or qualities. One person might go by “Preacher” because they have a clean image.

Another might go by “Gray Beard” because — you guessed it — they like sporting a long beard. It’s another way to build camaraderie within the ranks while also protecting members’ privacy.

While the most infamous biker gangs don’t allow women to become full members, there are some organizations that were formed exclusively for the ladies. This includes the 1941 founding of the Motor Maids.

It was the first such group established in the United States, and it was a way for women to celebrate their love of riding with the wind in their hair — even when other clubs wouldn’t let them in.

The truth is that all biker gangs require their members to have the utmost respect for their symbols, logos, vests, and other merchandise.

They have to take care of them, keep them clean, and never sell or lose them. If a member leaves the biker gang, they must return what merchandise they have to the club — or else.

You’ve probably heard of the 1 percent being thrown around in politics — as in, “tax the 1 percent” of the richest individuals. But this percentile also has great meaning in the biker gang world. In 1947, thousands of bikers attended a rally in California.

During this rally, an organizer claimed that 99 percent of bikers are “good people.” Gangs like the Hells Angels, Outlaws, Mongols, and others gleefully claimed that remaining 1 percent.

The Hells Angels often conduct fundraisers and charity drives for good causes, but some people say these initiatives distract from the true crimes the biker gang is committing. One of those crimes includes buying and selling women — the majority of the time without their consent.

Hells Angels members have been accused of doing this in Berlin, using women as a sort of currency to get things done. A similar case in Spain saw many gang members arrested.

So how are biker gangs allowed to operate if authorities know and recognize just how much trouble they cause and crimes they’re involved in? Most of the time, the federal government has to resort to pursue justice through loopholes and little-known laws and acts.

This includes the RICO Act. RICO stands for racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations, and it might ring familiar if you follow news about the mob. It’s the best tool the powers that be have in their arsenal to combat biker gangs.

As much as the culture of biker gangs has changed over the years, it doesn’t mean that being in one is any less dangerous. Just because you can purchase licensed merchandise from the biker gang you most identify with doesn’t mean that violence isn’t on the menu anymore.

In fact, as recently as 2015, members of the Bandidos and Cossacks got into a gunfight with each other and police in Texas, leading to nine people being killed.

So not every biker gang is involved in organized crime to the extent of those elite 1 percent of organizations. But the U.S. Department of Justice has its eye on seven specific clubs that cause the most trouble in terms of organized crime, such as violence, substance trafficking and more.

These include the infamous Hells Angels and their primary rivals, the Mongols, beefing in California. Elsewhere in the Midwest, you can find the Outlaws. On the East Coast, the Pagans rule the roost. The Sons of Silence have Colorado, and the Vagos and Cossacks have carved out their piece of the pie.

While biker gangs might be a common community in that they all have an affinity for motorcycles, that’s where the commonality ends. There has been significant violence between rival gangs, often ending up in people injured, jailed or dead. One such example took place in 2002 in a Nevada casino.

A dispute between the Hells Angels and the Mongols escalated into fighting, warring with knives, and finally a gun battle, leaving six dead and more than a dozen injured.

Are you a big fan of the biker gang aesthetic? If so, you have an opportunity to purchase trademarked original gear from the biggest gangs — including the Hells Angels. It’s as easy as shopping online, especially since this particular gang has a well-organized website with links to their shops.

While you’re deciding on which official T-shirt to buy, you can also check out chapters from around the world, photos, and much more.

It’s not enough to wear your patches and vests while in a biker gang. Many members choose to use their skin as canvases to display logos, names, and iconography closely related to their clubs.

This is an ultimate test of loyalty, too — if you’re really dedicated to your gang, you’re going to want to prove that you’re in it for life with tattoos that will last the rest of your days. Again, though, you’re going to want to think twice before leaving the gang. Members will want those tattoos removed so you don’t represent the club anymore.

Used to seeing popular culture portray biker gangs as chaotic gatherings full of infighting and other disruption? It’s not like that at all. In fact, the majority of gangs have a highly organized hierarchy within them.

This includes presidents of clubs, vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers — right on down to the prospect who is on a probationary period prior to officially joining the gang. Everyone has a specific role — and the responsibilities to go along with it.

There are plenty of assumptions regular people are ready to make about biker gangs, such as many of them being disorganized and ready to cause chaos. But did you know that some gangs, like the Hells Angels, are actually enormously sophisticated?

More of a business now than a biker gang, Hells Angels is dedicated to protecting its logos, trademarks, and image. They even have a history of suing entertainment franchises like Disney if their images are misused.

Research shows that biker gang membership has often been highly racially motivated. While there are several biker gangs for people of color, the big gangs — the Hells Angels included — have traditionally excluded members who are not white.

Some biker gangs even have links to white supremacist organizations. While not all biker gangs exclude nonwhite people, it really varies. The history for exclusion is there, and it often seems like this wouldn’t be a great environment or opportunity for diversity.

Just like the officially unofficial ban on diverse races in biker gangs, there’s also no women allowed — at least not as full members with all the rights and privileges that come along with that.

For example, the Bandidos don’t allow women to become members — though they can become affiliated with the club as “associates.” As an associate, the women are expected to support the club. They may be also tasked with chores — or even exploited whenever the mood strikes.

Many types of motorcycle clubs are actually founded for the greater good. We might not be talking about the Hells Angels or other notorious biker gangs. We’re talking about organizations like Bikers Against Child Abuse, whose main call to action is to help children who have been bullied or experienced abuse.

Groups like this are for the greater good, raising money for worthy causes and conducting such projects as toy drives around the holidays to make sure every kid has a happy Christmas.

Bikers are most often characterized as roaring along American highways, but the truth of the matter is that there are biker gangs everywhere there are roads. All continents host specific chapters of the biker gangs we know best, including Hells Angels, Outlaws, Mongols, Rebels, and more.

In fact, sometimes their presence is so bad — and includes so much violence and disruption — that entire feuds erupt in countries like Great Britain. In Australia, the government has even revoked the citizenship of biker gang leaders.

Remember how biker gangs weren’t only present in the United States? In 1980s-era Scandinavia, the Hells Angels and Bandidos escalated rivalry and violence to a boiling point.

This period of time became known as the Great Northern Biker War, and it left nearly a dozen people dead and almost a hundred injured over the course of three turbulent years. A televised peace conference promised an end to it, but the rivalry never really stopped.

Life in a biker gang isn’t just riding motorcycles and doing crime. There are regular meetings organized within organizations to keep everything running smoothly. These meetings have very strict rules so that everyone gets heard.

It’s a democratic process, meaning that every member’s voice is heard. Individuals who flaunt these rules may be subject to fines and other punishments along the way. Bikers must follow internal rules — even while possibly breaking external laws.

Have you read these facts and found yourself excited and interested in joining a biker gang? Good luck! Trying to become a member of a motorcycle club is a long and hard journey. While you’re a prospective member — or “prospect” — you must endure a long waiting period.

During that period of time, you may be expected to have to do all the grunt work, filling your time with chores. In other gangs, you may also be subjected to hazing and bullying before you’re allowed a seat at the table.

A waiting period full of boring chores is one thing if you’re trying to become a member of a biker gang. But this process is even worse if the Bandidos is the organization you’re trying to join. A researcher recently learned the details of the initiation a prospective member must endure while becoming a Bandido, publishing her findings in a 2012 journal issue.

One portion of this hazing includes soaking a prospective’s vest with disgusting bodily fluids and sending him away — with the vest on — to ride his motorcycle until the vest dries. No, thank you.

Remember those meetings with their very strict rules? One of the strictest requirements is to never miss a meeting at all. Dentist appointment? Reschedule it. Conference with your child’s teacher? Too bad. Your biggest priority is your biker gang, and you’d better be at the meeting.

If there’s something unavoidable on your plate, like being bedridden from an illness, or being locked up in jail, you can let your club know that you won’t make a meeting. But if you have three unexcused absences, you’re out.

One of the biggest reasons biker gangs struggle to coexist peacefully is because of territory. In general, just one gang can be in charge of any given area. You might notice patches that list regions or cities proudly displayed on a club member’s vest.

This signifies what area the club controls. Gangs are in constant disagreement with other organizations while trying to expand or hold on to an area. If two different clubs have the same cities listed on their patches … well, those are fighting words.

Everything you’ve read up until this point about prospective members and stringent rules and other details about the facets of a biker gang member’s life all comes down to this: loyalty.

This is the biggest value in an organization that might not value traditional things, like following rules and laws and being an upstanding citizen. Members of a gang like the Mongols or the Hells Angels must be staunchly loyal to their club. If they betray their club, they could be beaten — or worse.

What happens in the biker gang stays in the biker gang. At least, that’s what many motorcycle clubs require. Members should be discreet about the business — legal or illegal — that goes on in their organization. And they certainly shouldn’t share the details of meetings or initiatives with people who aren’t in the club.

That includes unaffiliated friends and family members. Some clubs have even made rules that don’t allow members to talk about club business on the phone.

So you’ve gone through all the hazing and everything else that encompasses the prospective member experience. And you’ve been a full member for a while, attending mandatory meetings and participating in all of the pursuits your club requires of you.

But let’s say you’ve gotten tired of the biker life and just want to retire to somewhere quiet. Will your club let you wander off to pasture? No. In fact, it’s hard to quit a biker gang. And if you do so without permission, you could suffer harsh consequences.

We’ve learned a lot about those notorious “1 percent” of biker gangs — the ones that thrive while doing crime. But the truth is that the vast majority of motorcycle clubs are just for people who enjoy camaraderie and riding their motorcycles in numbers.

There are motorcycle clubs for individuals with all interests, such as one specifically for medics. These members don’t undergo hazing or participate in illicit activities. Their lives probably mostly look completely normal when they’re not on their bikes.

If you’ve ever ridden on a motorcycle before, you understand just how difficult it is to communicate with other riders — even if you’re motoring beside them. Biker gangs have created hand signals and other sign languages to combat this issue, keeping everyone informed and organized during rides.

For example, if a biker holds a single finger in the air, that means he wants the rest of the riders to assemble in single file. A tap on the top of the helmet lets everyone else know there are police officers ahead.

Surprise — some notorious biker gangs have ties to celebrities you may not have realized. One of the most infamous of these relationships is the time the Hells Angels were contracted to provide security for a Rolling Stones concert.

The year was 1969, and the security ended up turning the ending of the concert into a full-out riot. We hope the Rolling Stones went with some more reputable security services following this debacle!

Maybe you’ve been rolling down the road in your car and have been surprised by a full posse of motorcyclists roaring down the road. Why do they ride in such great numbers? As it turns out, there’s safety in numbers. For those in the 1 percent, like the Hells Angels, there’s added security against rival gangs when members ride together.

But regular motorcycle clubs ride in numbers for increased visibility from other motorists, which keeps everyone safer.

It really depends on the club, but there are some gangs that have specific expectations when it comes to the two wheels their members get around on. For example, the Hells Angels stipulate that their members may only ride Harley-Davidsons.

In other clubs, sports bikes are incredibly frowned upon — like the ones used to race in sports or compete on courses. More informal clubs — particularly the ones that don’t engage in crime — are usually more relaxed.

The first motorcycle was invented in 1885. Motorcycle clubs followed not too long after, in 1903. This first club was called the New York Motorcycle Club. This club wasn’t involved in organized crime — that we know of. Because the first “illegal” biker gang is actually the McCook Outlaws, established in 1936.

For as long as there have been motorcycles, there has been a number of people passionate about riding them — for many different reasons and motivations.

Legitimate motorcycle clubs enjoy a strong showing of military veterans. This was especially true following the conflict of World War II. The camaraderie that soldiers enjoyed together on the field of battle and in their individual units translated naturally to motorcycle clubs.

Riding their motorcycles on the weekends out on country roads is a good excuse to spend time together. Many motorcycle clubs welcome veterans in their ranks to this day.

It’s not enough for potential biker gang members to suffer through hazing and all the flak that comes with it when they want to join. Some biker gangs may require their prospects to commit acts of violence to really prove themselves to the club. This could include attacking members of a rival biker gang — or even innocent people.

Part of the rationale for using violence is to ensure that any potential members are loyal to the club — and don’t have any ties to the police.

Distributing illicit substances across the United States is perhaps one of the most notorious biker gang crimes that we are aware of. For example, the Pagans biker gang distributed hundreds of substances along the East Coast. This drive has been linked to many tragic incidents.

On the other side of the country, the Hells Angels maintain highly organized distribution routes that include airplanes. It’s a true blight on society.