If you’ve ever had your tires stolen, you know how awful and jarring it can be. One minute you’re parking your car or SUV and the next you’re coming out to see your vehicle up on blocks, its necessary mode of transport gone. Once your tires have been stolen, it’s too late to prevent it from happening. And while there are many ways to keep your tires from being stolen, sometimes you don’t have the necessary equipment, or the funds to buy the equipment. Or, perhaps you’re not generally concerned about your tires getting stolen, until you’re parking on a dark and desolate street and you realize, this isn’t going to end well.

If you find yourself in such a situation, there is one simple thing you can do that will help keep thieves from stealing your tires. It requires zero equipment or even forethought. It’s literally as simple as turning your wheels. Here is the simplest effective way to keep thieves from stealing your tires without any gear.

Turn your tires 45 degrees to keep thieves from stealing your tires

Yep, it really is as simple as turning your wheel toward the curb. Angle those tires to roughly a 45-degree angle (no protractor required, you can guestimate). Geico says that this simple trick will keep thieves from being able to access your tires. That’s because when you do so, your inner fender is generally in the way, making it more difficult for thieves to get to your tires. And if there’s one thing that thieves like when they’re looking for a car or SUV to steal, it’s ease. If a thief has the choice between two vehicles, and one has tires that would be a pain to get to, they’re likely going to skip that SUV or car.

There are other no-equipment ways to keep your tires safe

In addition to turning your tires at a 45-degree angle, there are other steps you can take to keep thieves from stealing your tires. One of these is to park in a well-lit area. It may seem intuitive, but it can be easy to forget when you’re in a rush, or if you’re parking in the middle of the day but leaving your SUV or car until dark.

Another simple and no-equipment way to keep thieves from stealing your tires is to park close to the curb. Similar to why turning your wheels to a 45-degree angle works, parking close to the curb – or another obstacle, like a building – makes it harder for tire thieves to access your tires.

If you want extra protection, there is equipment designed to keep your tires safe

Of course, there are gadgets you can buy to keep thieves from stealing your tires. These include lug nut locks, which make it harder to get tires off of the wheels, or wheel locks. These require a special anti-theft key tool to install and remove.

You can also buy an alarm. Alarms for cars may work, as they can sound when someone gets too close to or tampers with your car or SUV. However, an alarm with tire sensors is best to keep thieves from stealing your tires, as they’ll be able to make noise when someone is trying to take your tires.

When tire thieves are on the prowl, or if you just really like being able to drive your car, then you might want to follow these tips. Keeping in mind the no-equipment ways to keep thieves from stealing your tires is an easy and effective way to keep your tires safe.