How to keep thieves from stealing cars

[Janna]

I bought my sim's oldest boy (Lucas) a car; he had just aged up and has a part time job. 
I don't have a garage, just made parking spots in the yard for the two cars. 

Heard the thief music and ignored it; figured it was the neighbors who are always getting robbed.  But when I saw the neg mood for having something stolen, I checked and his car was taken!      

I had just started up the game, had been playing it for no more than five minutes so I exited without saving.  How can I keep the cars from being stolen?  Would building a garage help, or should I fence in the whole yard?  Or put the cars in the person's inventory?
Indigo,  the youngest, will be aging up in two days, I was going to get her a car also; so that will be three cars to keep safe. 

[Twinmum]

I doubt that just building a fence would stop a thief because walls don't keep them out of a house. I guess the only way would be to buy a burglar alarm, but I think they need to be in an enclosed area to work, so a garage would be ideal with the alarm on the wall inside it. Another option, but not sure if it would work would be to fence the yard and have the alarm on a wall near the car (maybe a carport?)

[Pam]

I've started putting the burglar alarms on the outside of the house.  It seems to catch a burglar as soon as he/she steps on the property.  Garages seem to help as the burglar can't open the garage door.  Keeping the car in the Sim's personal inventory is also a good idea.  If you do that, I would suggest you delete any parking spots on the lot because Sims are known to park the car instead of putting it back in the inventory.  If there's no parking spot, there is no choice but to put it back in inventory.

[Saltypaws]

The burglar alarms do work on the outside.  If I don't have a garage,  I build a fence or pillars on either side of the house on the property line, use move objects on and put a burglar alarm on that.  You can fix up the fence or pillar with plants and as soon as the burglar even gets close to the alarm, it will go off.  Have not lost a car in a while now.

[Margerita]

I always place my burglar alarm by the front door and it 100% goes off whenever a thief visits.

[Priyansh]

I would say that keep it in Lucas' inventory. Thief cannot steal it then.

I'm a bit confused about alarms. Do you have to keep it such that it faces outside? Or such that it faces the door? Or such that thief passes the wall and it goes bang?

[Pam]

I would say that keep it in Lucas' inventory. Thief cannot steal it then.

I'm a bit confused about alarms. Do you have to keep it such that it faces outside? Or such that it faces the door? Or such that thief passes the wall and it goes bang?

I used to put mine on the inside near the door, but now I put it on the outside wall.  By using the inside wall, it detects the burglar as soon as he enters the house.  But by using the outside wall, it detects him as soon as he steps on the lot.

[Priyansh]

I used to put mine on the inside near the door, but now I put it on the outside wall.  By using the inside wall, it detects the burglar as soon as he enters the house.  But by using the outside wall, it detects him as soon as he steps on the lot.

Thanks for the answer. This means I can place it on the rear/side wall of my house and it will beep as soon as thief steps on the lot?

[Margerita]

Thanks for the answer. This means I can place it on the rear/side wall of my house and it will beep as soon as thief steps on the lot?

Most likely yes, but mine is usualy placed somewhat near the center of the lot as well when I think about it.