Keep Your Car Secure

If you think that articles like this one are stating the obvious, then perhaps you’re safety conscious and not one of the 500,000 people in the UK who are unlucky enough to have their cars stolen every year. Nearly half the victims never see their vehicles again.

Car crime accounts for more than one quarter of all reported offences.

You might believe that because your car is old it is less likely to be pinched or broken in to. Sadly, the reality is quite the opposite. Your aged vehicle is, in fact more appealing to opportunist thieves than newer cars… for the simple reason that it is less secure.

Modern motors come complete with a wide range of security fixtures. Alarms, immobilisers and strong locks are usually fitted as standard, and even if the villains do break in, ‘hot wiring’ is impossible.

But if you do have a new car, don’t assume that you are invulnerable to car crime, because professional thieves simply make use of elaborate, and sometimes audacious, methods to do away with high-value vehicles, including dragging them off using a tow truck.

And it doesn’t matter what sort of car you drive if you leave valuables on view inside. Theft from stationary vehicles is the most common form of car crime, and a determined thief will simply smash a window to make a quick grab for what takes his or her fancy. Try never to leave anything of any value in your car – or, at least, keep all items of any worth out of sight.

Car stereos are still the most commonly stolen items, with items of clothing coming second. Also popular are laptops, sunglasses, bags, mobile phones, CDs, tools, credit cards, cigarettes and loose change. Even tax discs appeal to thieves – they are altered and sold to dishonest motorists.

Many stereos these days have removable front sections that slip neatly into a pocket or bag, so don’t forget to detach yours as you leave your car. Some older stereos come out in their entirety and, while it will not always be convenient to be carrying around the whole thing, you should remove yours overnight and when parking for extended periods (like when you are at work).

You can also etch your registration number on the stereo’s body and write it in ultraviolet pen. Modern stereos have their own unique ID numbers, so make a note of yours.

Of course you can’t take your tax disc with you when you leave your car – you may end up being towed away - so buy a ‘tamper-proof’ disc holder available from the Post Office (http://www.postoffice.co.uk).

Parking in an area that has good lighting and the possibility of witnesses can reduce your chance of being a victim of car crime by up to 70%. Registered Secure Car Parks are available across the UK, but if you don’t have access to one, park in busy, well-lit areas, or in view of your home. You can light up the space where you park overnight with security lights fitted on your house. If you have a garage, use it!

Never leave your car doors unlocked or your keys in the ignition when you are not at the wheel. Not only is this an invitation to thieves, it is likely to be regarded by your insurance company as reckless behaviour and reason enough not to make a payout.

And this can apply to your home, too. If you are burgled and the thieves take your car because they found the keys on a table in the front hall, then the insurers may refuse to pay out because you did not keep them in a secure or discreet place in your home.

Used together, an alarm and an immobiliser, which prevents the engine starting, are the most effective devices for deterring car thieves – and they can be fitted on older vehicles.

There are a wide number of other anti-theft devices available. However, many of the locks that fit on your handbrake or pedals or across your steering wheel can be undone by a professional crook in a matter of seconds.

Look for items bearing the words “Thatcham approved”, which means they are of superior quality and have been given the okay by the motor insurance industry’s security research centre (http://www.thatcham.org).

Other security items include locking deadlocks for your car doors and see-through film for their windows (to stop smash-and-grabs), extra wheel locks and locking petrol caps.