This is Money has spoken to a number of experts in the field of vehicle safety to create a list of 13 tips that all car owners should follow to better protect their engines.
We’ve enlisted the help of Thatcham Research, AA President Edmund King and vehicle crime consultant Dr Ken German (formerly head of technology at the Met’s stolen car squad with a PhD in international vehicle crime) to compile the ultimate list of car safety tips:
1Make sure your car is locked first.
This may seem obvious, but a large proportion of thefts are a result of leaving the vehicle unlocked or criminals using signal blockers that prevent the key fob from communicating with the car’s locks.
Drivers should always check that the vehicle is locked and the windows are up after using the key fob. Listen to the sound of the vehicle locking and watch for flashing lights and, if your car has them, for automatic folding of the rearview mirrors.
2. Do not leave the car engine running to defrost the windows.
Freezing temperatures can tempt drivers to start the car’s engine to defrost the windows and then return to the warmth of the interior until the windshield is clear.
It may seem obvious, but leaving a vehicle unattended poses a huge security risk, even if it’s in your own private driveway. In fact, it is illegal to do this and your insurer is unlikely to pay any losses if your car is stolen as a result of this.
Thieves will look for stopped cars that emit exhaust smoke or have side mirrors that are normally folded when closed but clearly are not.
3. Keep valuables out of sight
‘Out of sight, out of mind.’ Remove all valuables from your vehicle so that it is not an easy target for opportunistic thieves.
4. Does it have an alarm and immobilizer?
Make sure your vehicle is fitted with a Thatcham-certified alarm, immobiliser and tracking system. Some insurance policies require the installation of a tracking device, so it is important to maintain any associated subscriptions to monitoring services.
5. Mechanical safety systems, such as steering locks, may seem “old-fashioned,” but they are a great deterrent.
Steering wheel locks, gear shift cleats, wheel clamps and other traditional security systems can act as a strong visual deterrent to thieves.
6. Install a doorbell camera or CCTV in your home
Doorbell cameras and CCTV systems are becoming increasingly popular both as a deterrent to car crime and to catch thieves.
Make sure to invest in one that has a night vision mode and crisp HD resolution.
Driveway lighting with motion sensors can also be a strong deterrent.
7. If you have a garage, use it!
If you have a garage, try to make sure there is enough space to fit your car in it, rather than using it to store all sorts of household items.
If you have multiple vehicles, prioritize the garage for the one with the highest value and park another car in front of the garage door as an added precaution.
And if you have electric garage doors, don’t keep the transponder inside the vehicle, such as in the glove compartment. Victims have subsequently discovered that this is the reason their belongings were stolen.
8. Think about where and how you park overnight
Most car thefts occur under the cover of darkness, so this is the most important time to consider how secure your vehicle is.
If you don’t have a garage but do have a driveway, always park tactically.
For example, if you have a wide driveway, park your car sideways so any thief has to maneuver around it. If your driveway is smaller, park it in front of your house to increase the chances of being alerted when the lights come on. And park with your wheels turned all the way to extend the time it takes for criminals to get away. Even consider parking another, less desirable car in front of (or behind) your vehicle to prevent it from being easily taken.
Those with driveways can also purchase lockable barriers to restrict access, and experts warn that a car cover is often a deterrent because it takes time to remove and can be suspicious to neighbors and passersby.
If off-street parking is not available, try to leave your car in a well-lit area (ideally with CCTV surveillance) and in a position that makes it difficult for a thief to move quickly.
Ken German tells us that some drivers are getting more creative in their attempts to protect their cars. Some previous victims are leaving mannequins in the driver’s seat to deter unwanted visitors.
9. Check the accreditation of the repair center and the workshop to avoid key cloning
If you need to leave your keys at a garage or body shop, you should check that they are members of an accredited code of practice or professional standard, such as The Motor Ombudsman or the British Parking Association’s Park Mark scheme.
This should reduce your chances of falling victim to key cloning.
Additionally, if you purchased your vehicle pre-owned with only one working key, visit an authorized repair center to have the missing key(s) removed and a spare key added as soon as possible.
10. Consider a dash cam or car with anti-theft alerts
Dashboard cameras have grown in popularity in recent years and are primarily used by drivers to prove they were not at fault in an accident.
They also act as a great theft deterrent, as many of these devices also record suspicious activity when the vehicle is parked and you are not inside.
However, make sure you buy one that uploads videos to cloud storage instead of just saving them to a USB stick in the dash cam, because you’ll lose those too if your car is stolen.
Some modern vehicles now offer a “parking mode”, which can also detect and record movement when the vehicle is parked. This can be used as evidence by the insurer and the police.
Many of these alerts will be triggered through a smartphone app, so make sure you have the feature enabled and turned on notifications.
11. Always erase stored information on a car before selling it
Some connected vehicle applications and systems may provide access to the previous owner.
If permissions remain active, make sure all permissions and data linked to the previous owner are removed.
12. Lobster thieves might strike twice
Today there is a new wave of “locust thieves” who loot cars parked on the side of the road and even outside their owners’ homes.
Many people have woken up to find their cars missing wheels, hoods, grilles and even doors, rendering them undriveable. This is because these parts have become more valuable since the pandemic, with factories shutting down and slowing down meaning some components are not as readily available from manufacturers as they were pre-COVID.
For example, a Porsche headlight can now be worth up to £1,000, leading to an increase in theft of these parts. Wing mirrors on high-end vehicles are also high-value components that are easily stolen.
Ken German warns that falling victim to lobster thieves might not be the end of the story. He says owners who have had parts stolen from their car should check around and under the vehicle to make sure the thieves haven’t installed a tracking device so they can track when the engine isn’t being used and come back later to try to steal it.
13. Beware of scam tactics used to steal cars.
While vehicle theft still exists today, it is not as prevalent in the UK as it is in other countries, such as South Africa.
That said, if you are in a high-value vehicle, it would be wise to drive with the doors locked in traffic.
Also drive defensively when in a queue, leaving enough space ahead so you can get out of a tight spot if necessary.
If your vehicle is hit from behind, wait until you stop and find a safe place where there are people. If you are suspicious, do not open your door and call the police.