Over a quarter of all recorded crime in the UK is ‘vehicle crime’, theft of vehicles or theft from vehicles. The most common types of property stolen from vehicles are handbags, laptop computers, stereos, satellite navigation equipment and mobile phones. If your car is stolen or broken into it could mean weeks of inconvenience as well as extra expense. It may be difficult to protect your car from a determined thief, but most car crime is committed by an opportunist thief and you can deter a thief with vigilance and relatively cheap security precautions. Don’t be wise after the event, take the following advice to help turn the tide against car crime. Basic security -
Never leave your car door unlocked, or a window or sunroof open, even when just going into a mates house or a shop for a moment or two. -
Remove the ignition key and engage the steering lock, even when parking on your own property. -
If you have an alarm, turn it on every time you leave your vehicle, no exceptions, it takes a thief minutes to steal either your car or the contents within. -
Never leave any property on display in your car. If you can’t take it with you, put it in the boot and make sure that the boot is locked! -
Security mark your stereo and other equipment and if it is a removable type always take it with you or lock it in the boot. Make a note of the serial numbers and keep it in a safe place, your insurance company might ask you for these numbers in the event of a claim for theft. -
Do not leave credit cards or cheque books in the glove compartment of your car. One in five stolen cheque and credit cards are taken from cars. Never leave your vehicle documents in the car, they could make it easier for a thief to sell it.
Extra security -
Etch the car’s registration number on all glass surfaces, such as windows, headlamps, or sunroof. Thieves don’t want the expense of replacing all the glass. -
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 such as tracking devices. Alarms should conform to BS6803. Check that is it ‘Sold Secure Pact Approved’ before you buy it, a decent security device could lower your insurance premium.
tip: Instead of photocopying all your important documents and carrying them with you, you can scan everything and e-mail the scans to your e-mail account as attachments. Use a web-based e-mail account such as a free hotmail.com account so you can access your documents from anywhere in the world. We suggest you scan your Passport, Drivers License, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Insurance Policies, etc. In fact, this is just an all-around good idea! Do it now, even if you are not traveling, in case of fire or theft. |
