Installing a roof box on your vehicle is one way to ensure that you have plenty of storage space available for transporting luggage or other larger objects that may not fit as easily into the vehicle itself.
You see a lot of smaller, more compact cars utilizing these types of storage systems. Whenever you see a car going down the road that has the shell on top of the vehicle, for lack of a better term, you’re looking at an automobile with a roof box. The truth is, many of these roof boxes even make the vehicle look better than it did before it was installed, largely because they’re designed to work well with that particular make and model of automobile.
The question is, “is the roof box really secure?” When you think about the amount of vehicles broken into these days, it’s a question that’s worth asking. After all, the last thing you want to do is leave your vehicle open to a thief. Therefore, it’s important to know whether or not you can count on a roof box to keep your items secure.
How do roof boxes get stolen?
Sometimes, it isn’t just the items being stored inside the roof box that you have to worry about. There have been cases where the entire roof box itself was stolen, taken right off of the vehicles it was previously installed on. It’s rather hard to imagine exactly how this could happen.
After all, wouldn’t it be difficult for someone to come along and just steal the entire roof box off the top of a vehicle without anyone else knowing about it until after the fact? The truth is, it can and does happen.
For a skilled thief, it doesn’t even take that long to steal a roof box. They often show up in pairs and they can have a roof box removed from a vehicle in its entirety in just a few minutes, often without attracting attention to themselves in the process. The question is, how does this happen?
How do roof boxes get broken into?
There are two ways that thieves typically go about breaking into a roof box. The first is to simply remove the entire roof box from the car and steal it, as previously discussed. The second is to actually break into the roof box, effectively allowing the thief to steal whatever is being stored inside of it without removing the roof box itself.
In some cases, the thieves responsible for the theft even go to the added trouble of closing and securing the roof box so that it looks like nothing ever happened. This virtually ensures that you won’t notice that something has happened to your belongings until they are long gone. It also means that you are far less likely to get any of your possessions back.
Can roof boxes be locked?
Does that mean that you should never use roof boxes because they can’t be properly secured? Of course not. In reality, they can be secured quite well. You just have to take the time to do it.
You can lock the roof box itself, in much the same way that you would lock the car. By the same token, you can sometimes find a roof box that actually secures in its entirety to the car. This makes it almost impossible for someone to steal the roof box, or even to break into it and steal the items it contains. Keeping everything locked also means you’re less likely to be targeted by thieves in the first place, as it will take them longer to break into things and get your personal belongings.
Remember, thieves are looking for a way to gain access to something very quickly. They don’t want to end up struggling with something for an undue amount of time. Doing so would call attention to their actions, something they definitely don’t want to do. By merely locking the roof box and securing it to the vehicle, you are making it far less likely that you will be the victim of a break-in.
In some cases, you may even be able to get a roof box that’s made as part of the original equipment on some cars. Of course, this makes it even less likely that someone else will be able to get their hands on your things.
Can roof boxes be locked into the roof rack?
If you’re utilizing a roof box in conjunction with a roof rack, it’s easy to create a system where the roof box and the roof rack effectively become one immovable object that cannot be easily removed from the vehicle itself.
You can purchase special locks that are designed for exactly this type of thing and when you utilize them properly, it makes it so difficult for someone to steal the roof box that they’re highly unlikely to even attempt to do so in the first place. It would be much easier for them to move on to a target that is less secure and will require less time for them to break into.
By using these types of locks, you’re doing what you need to do to ensure that your items are protected and you’re simultaneously protecting the value of your vehicle, as you’re making it less likely that it will be damaged by someone who’s trying to break into the roof box or even remove it from the vehicle itself.
How to prevent your roof box from being stolen?
Again, there are a number of different ways that you can prevent your roof box from being stolen. The first and most obvious is to use a special locking mechanism that secures the roof box to the vehicle and ensures that the box itself stays locked.
Depending on whether or not your roof box is an after-market part or if you purchased it as part of the added-on equipment when you bought the vehicle, the roof box may even come with certain special anti-theft features that are built into it. If that’s the case, it makes it even more secure.
Rest assured, you can properly secure a roof box that you purchased long after you made your initial vehicle purchase as well. You just have to take the time to purchase the necessary equipment and then ensure that it’s installed properly. It’s also imperative to make sure that you use it each and every time.
If you still feel like your roof box isn’t as secure as you would like it to be, there are a couple more things you can do. You might consider installing an alarm on the roof box so that it goes off anytime someone tries to gain access to it without using a specific key or code. Of course, you can always install a GPS device into the roof box itself, effectively allowing you to track it provided that someone does get their hands on it.
How to shop for a thief-proof roof box?
If you’re worried about someone stealing your roof box, that’s good. You should be. It’s unfortunate that this has to be something that is at the forefront of your thinking but the way the world is today, you have to ensure that you take the necessary steps to protect your possessions.
You can use a roof box securely without having to worry about having items stolen. The key is to shop for a box that you can properly secure from the beginning. In other words, think about the security of the box itself while you’re considering which one you should purchase. You might want to consider the type of locking mechanism that is used and whether or not it has an alarm or a built-in GPS device associated with it.
As previously mentioned, it’s also imperative to make sure that you can secure the box itself to the car and its entirety, not just merely locking the items inside of the box.
Alternatives to roof boxes
If you’re still not comfortable with the idea of using a roof box, you might decide to go with a cargo rack, tonneau cover, tool box, or even a camper shell. Keep in mind, these types of things can only be used with certain vehicles like pickup trucks. There’s no way to put a tonneau cover or a camper shell on a compact car and you’re certainly not going to fit a toolbox onto one.
However, it’s important to note that in many cases the roof box is more secure then merely installing a tonneau cover or even a toolbox. Tonneau covers typically only lock in conjunction with a locking tailgate so unless your vehicle was built with one, you may be inadvertently providing access to anyone who wants it.
By the same token, toolboxes typically only come with a simple lock that can easily be picked or broken. Therefore, it’s important to consider your options before deciding which one is the right choice for you.
In the end, it’s all about making sure your vehicle looks great and provides you with the storage space you need. Ensuring that you can properly secure everything is natural. In reality, it’s just as natural as locking your vehicle when you exit it. The key is to make sure you have all the right equipment to secure your items and that you use them on a regular basis.
If you’re thinking of different ways to accessorize your truck or make it more functional, consider checking out my recommended accessories page. I spent a good amount of time picking out mods that can be useful for most pickup trucks.