According to the Office for National Statistics there were 113,037 incidents of car thefts being reported in 2019 that’s a 9% increase from the year before. The Association of British Insurers also reported an increase of 11% in the number of cases linked to car theft. As the facts prove car theft is on the increase and thus extra precautions may be necessary when it comes to car security.
Prevention
Locking Your Car – This may seem like a no brainer but you would be surprised by the number of people who don’t lock their cars when they are not inside, either by accident or on purpose. Many thieves will try their luck and pull the handle to see if the door opens or not, if the door opens you can say goodbye to any valuables you have inside.
Ensure you car is Alarmed – This too seems like a no brainer but not all cars are alammed especially vintage cars which are sometimes highly valuable. If this is the case, you need to ensure you have an expert install an alarm. By having an alarm on your car you make the thief work harder and the harder they have to work the higher the chance they will give up.
Hide Valuables – This one is definitely a no brainer. Many thieves are opportunistic and will strike if they see something worthwhile. So it’s best to hide any valuables in your car, by putting them in the glove compartment, boot or under the seats. Never leave cash out in the open and never leave anything of high value, otherwise you may just end up regretting it.
Keyless Car Security – Keyless cars are particularly vulnerable to clever criminals, who can use computer software to scan your keys’ wireless signal and then copy this to their laptop, enabling them to open and turn on your car. One way to prevent this is to place your car keys in a metal box, this will reflect the signal meaning the baddies will be unable to
Steering Lock – It’s always a good idea to have a steering wheel lock in your car and to apply it to the wheel whenever you exit the vehicle. This will not only make a thief job much much harder but will also act as a deterrent, maybe stopping a crime before one is committed.
Close your windows – Leaving a window open in the summer to cool the car when you’re not in may make sense but from a security point of view it’s BIG NO NO. Open windows allow criminals to shake the windows off the tracks or allows a hook in the car to pull the door handle and gain access.
Don’t leave the car running – So how many of us have left the car running either to heat up in the winter or so you can quickly run into the local off licence. Leaving a car unattended with the engine running is a thief’s dream, so don’t let their dream come true.
Park in well lite areas – Finally if you are leaving your car on the street try to park under a street light. The more visible your car is the less likely it will be targeted by criminals.
