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With car theft on the rise and convictions on the decline, drivers are urged to do everything they can to defend themselves against car-raiding criminals.
But with organized theft gangs deploying a host of new high-tech tactics to infiltrate and breach the security features of modern vehicles, motorists have to get just as smart to keep their cars protected.
So what can you do to make your engine as unattractive as possible to thieves?
A former police interceptor has suggested his top six tips that could help drivers keep vehicles safe from opportunistic criminals…
Ben Pearson, former police interceptor and traffic officer, lists his top six tips for fending off car thieves
Figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that around 130,270 cars were stolen in England and Wales last year.
This figure is almost on par with 2022 (130,389 thefts), although around 25 percent more than in 2021 (104,435).
Despite the increase, almost none of the criminals responsible for these thefts are arrested and charged by police, official data shows.
He The number of criminals accused of car theft represents just 2 percent of cars stolen between July 2022 and June 2023, and in London, it is practically decriminalized due to the Met’s difficulties in catching thieves, according to Home Office data provided to dash cam manufacturer Nextbase.
This map shows the average rate of police charges for car theft in different parts of England and Wales between July 2022 and June 2023. Home Office figures suggest there is little chance of police catching people stealing motors .
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So what can motorists do to better protect their engines from these criminals?
Ben Pearson, former police interceptor and traffic officer, told us: ‘You don’t need to make your car the hardest to steal in the world, just the hardest to steal on your street.
“Today’s thieves are often sophisticated and experienced, but if there is an easier target nearby, they are much more likely to try their luck with that vehicle.”
To help drivers keep their engines safe, Ben has given us his top six tips to minimize the risk of thieves seeing your car as an easy target.
“You don’t have to make your car the hardest to steal in the world, just the hardest to steal on your street,” explains Ben.
1.Do not start the engine just to run the air conditioning.
It sounds so obvious that it’s condescending, but never leave your car unlocked and unattended.
It often happens in winter when you defrost your car and leave it running, but it is also common in summer when motorists are looking to cope with rising temperatures.
With heat spells reaching highs of 30 degrees already this week, it may be tempting to start your car’s engine to activate the air conditioning and brave the scorching heat inside the cabin before heading out on a trip.
But leaving your vehicle unattended, even in your driveway or parked on private property, will leave you vulnerable to opportunistic criminals.
2. Go back in time with a steering lock
One of the best ways to make your car harder to steal (and, more importantly, appear harder to steal) is to lock the wheels.
Great in the 80s and 90s for providing additional security before vehicle alarms and immobilizers became widespread, they are now a recommended product to deter thieves who could potentially target your engine using high-tech tactics.
One can be purchased for around £50 and will add an extra layer of protection should a thief get into your car using modern keyless theft, as well as giving you more time to hear an alarm or notice its presence.
A professional criminal can overcome a wheel lockup with an angle grinder, but that extra time and noise may discourage him.
3. Dashcams are not just for insurance purposes: they are a deterrent against theft
Dashcams were introduced to the market in the last decade to provide an insurance solution for those disputing liability in road collisions.
But as well as helping motorists capture evidence of their innocence that can be provided to insurers – and help reduce drivers’ premiums – they are also a smart way to deter thieves.
The latest dash cam products can do much more than simply record an accident while driving.
In fact, some can even alert you if someone approaches your car or breaks into it when you’re not around.
Connecting with your smartphone could allow you to scare away a would-be thief from afar, offering another layer of protection.
4. Use your garage for what it was originally designed for.
While not everyone has the luxury of garage or off-street parking, if you do, be sure to take advantage of it.
I can think of dozens of examples of cars stolen from homes where the garage is filled with useless junk, leaving what is often the second most expensive asset in the home exposed.
Clean the area and make room for your vehicle. Out of sight, out of mind!
5. Get rid of social media to keep your car safe
Social media can be a useful tool to let people know that your car has been stolen, but before that, keep it off your profile.
Too many people post photos of their car and its license plate number on Facebook or Instagram with their profiles unlocked.
Vehicles can be easily tracked this way and it is not difficult to find the location of the vehicles when people tag the locations in the images.
Don’t make it easy for thieves to make your car a target.
6. Let car thieves know you’re ready to fight
While all of these steps will make your car more difficult to steal, one of the best things you can do is make sure any potential thieves know that you have taken precautions to stop them.
The more obvious you can make it, the better.
Don’t be afraid of window stickers, the big yellow wheel lock, a bollard in the driveway, or anything that makes a thief think twice.
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