If your car is stolen or broken into, it could mean weeks of expensive inconvenience - not to mention losing your no-claims bonus.
It may be difficult to protect your car from a determined professional thief, but most car crime is opportunist, meaning that you can stop the crooks with vigilance and relatively cheap security precautions.
Take the following tips:
Some of the basics
- Never leave a car door unlocked or a window or sunroof open (even when just going into a shop for a moment or two)
- Avoid leaving anything in your car, whether valuable or not, particularly when it’s parked overnight .Almost 63% of thefts of and from vehicles happen when they are parked outside the home (a thief won’t know that a bag or coat doesn’t contain something valuable and might break a window to get at it - if you can’t take them with you, never leave things on display - lock them in the boot)
- Security-mark your CD player and if it’s removable, always take it with you (always make a note of the serial number and keep it in a safe place)
- Portable Satellite Navigation system still remain top of the things to steal so make sure they are removed and wipe off any suction pad marks on the windscreen.
- Other portable items such as ipods and MP3 players are also sort after, take them with you.
- Laptops should be placed in the boot at the start of your journey and removed as soon as you get to your destination.
- Don’t leave credit cards or cheque books in the glove compartment (one in five stolen cheque and credit cards are taken from cars)
- Never leave your vehicle documents in the car - they could help a thief to sell it
- Never leave your driving licence or passport in the car people can use your identity.
- Remove the ignition key and engage the steering lock, even when parking in your own driveway or garage, and don’t forget to lock the garage door
- Park with care. Park in busy or well-lit areas near CCTV cameras or secure car parks. Look for ‘ParkMark’ signage
- Always try to park in a well-lit, open location
- Double-check that all car doors, windows, sunroof and boot are locked before leaving your vehicle
- Your car keys are as valuable as your car, keep them safe out of view wherever you go, think about where they are kept at night, out of sight away from doors and windows
- There has been an increase in theft of number plates, use theft resistant plates or tamper proof screws to make them harder to steal
- Tuck in wing mirrors and put and put your aerial down to stop it being vandalised
Extra precautions
- Fit lockable wheel nuts and fuel cap
- Fit an anti-theft device – and use it every time you park (there are many types of car security device on the market, from steering wheel and clutch pedal locks to sophisticated electronic protection) You can find information on products that have been tested by Thatcham at www.thatcham.org
- If you have an alarm, turn it on every time you park (alarms should conform to British Standard 6803)
- A lockable petrol cap forces thieves to abandon your car when it runs out of petrol
- An additional immobilising device is worth considering
- Your insurance company may also be able to give you advice on approved security devices
More information:
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