This is Money has spoken to several 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 have enlisted the help of Thatcham Research, AA President Edmund King and vehicle crime consultant Dr Ken German, formerly head of technology for the Met’s stolen car squad with a PhD in international vehicle crime , to compile the ultimate list of car safety tips:
1. First of all, make sure your car is locked.
This may seem obvious, but a large proportion of thefts are the result of the vehicle being left unlocked or criminals using signal jammers that prevent the remote control from communicating with the car locks.
Drivers should always check that the vehicle is locked and the windows are up after using a remote control. Listen for the noise when closing and notice if the lights flash and, if your car has them, if the rearview mirrors fold automatically.
2. Do not leave your car engine on to defrost the windows
Freezing temperatures can tempt drivers to start the car engine to defrost the windows and then return to the warmth inside until the windshield is clear.
It may seem obvious, but leaving a vehicle unattended poses a huge safety risk, even if it’s on 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 are emitting exhaust smoke or that have rearview mirrors that are normally folded when closed, but clearly are not.
3. Keep valuables out of sight
‘Eyes that do not see, heart that does not feel’. Remove all valuables from your vehicle to make it less of a target for opportunistic thieves.
4. Does it have an alarm and immobilizer?
Ensure your vehicle has a Thatcham certified alarm, immobilizer and tracking system installed. Some insurance policies require the installation of a tracking device, so it is important that all subscriptions associated with tracking services are maintained.
5. Mechanical safety systems, such as steering wheel locks, may seem old-fashioned, but they are a great deterrent.
Steering wheel locks, shift clamps, wheel clamps and other traditional security systems can act as a strong visual deterrent against thieves.
6. Install a doorbell or CCTV camera in your home
Doorbell cameras and CCTV systems are becoming increasingly popular as a deterrent to car crime and to catch thieves.
Be sure to invest in one that has a night vision mode and crisp HD resolution.
Motion sensor entryway lighting 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 kinds of household clutter.
If you have multiple vehicles, almost prioritize the garage for 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 store the transponder inside the vehicle, like in the glove box. The victims later discovered that this was the reason for the theft of their property.
8. Think about where and how you park overnight.
Most car thefts occur in the dark, 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 large driveway, park the car on its side so any thieves will have to maneuver it. If your driveway is smaller, park in front of your house to increase the chances of being alerted when the lights come on. And park with the wheels in the fully locked position to extend the time it takes criminals to escape. Even consider parking another, less desirable car in front of (or behind) your vehicle to avoid being easily removed.
Those with driveways can also purchase lockable barriers to restrict access, and experts warn that a car cover is often a deterrent because of the time it takes to remove it and will look suspicious to neighbors and passersby.
If you don’t have off-street parking, try leaving your car in a well-lit area, ideally with CCTV monitoring, and in a position that makes it difficult for a thief to move quickly.
Ken German tells us that some motorists are being extra inventive in their attempt to protect their cars. Some previous victims leave mannequins in the driver’s seat to deter unwanted visitors.
9. Check repair center and workshop accreditation to avoid key cloning
If you need to leave your key at a garage or body shop, you should check that they are a member of an accredited code of practice/professional standard, such as the Motor Ombudsman or the British Parking Association’s Park Mark scheme.
This should reduce the chances of falling victim to key cloning.
Additionally, if you purchased your used vehicle with only one working key, visit an authorized repair center to remove the missing key(s) and add a replacement as soon as possible.
10. Consider a dash or car camera with theft alerts
Dashcams have gained popularity in recent years and are primarily used by motorists to prove that they were not at fault in an accident.
They also act as a great theft deterrent. This is because many of these devices will also record suspicious activity when your car is parked and you are not in it.
However, be sure to buy one that uploads video to cloud storage instead of just saving it to a memory card in the dash cam, because you’ll also lose it if your car is stolen.
Some modern vehicles now offer “parking mode”, which can also detect and record motion when parked. Your insurer and the police can use this as supporting evidence.
Many of these alerts will be sent via a smartphone app, so make sure you have turned on the feature and notifications.
11. Always delete stored information from a car before selling it.
Some vehicle apps and connected systems may provide access to the previous owner.
If permissions remain active, ensure that all permissions and data linked to the previous owner are deleted.
12. Lobster thieves could strike twice
Today there is a new wave of “lobster thieves” who loot cars while they are parked on the side of the road and even in front of their owners’ houses.
Many people have woken up to find that their cars are missing wheels, hoods, grills, and even doors, preventing them from driving them. This is because these parts are becoming more valuable since the pandemic, with factory closures and slowdowns meaning some components are not as readily available from manufacturers as they were pre-Covid.
For example, a Porsche headlight can today be worth up to £1,000, which has led to an increase in theft of these parts. The exterior mirrors of high-end vehicles are also high-value components and easy to steal.
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 thieves haven’t installed a tracking device so they can track when the engine is not in use and return at a later date. later to try to steal it.
13. Be aware of fraudulent tactics used to steal cars.
While vehicle theft still exists today, it is not as prevalent in the UK as 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 closed in traffic.
Also drive defensively when in a queue, leaving enough space in front to be able to get out of a jam if necessary.
If your vehicle is hit from behind, wait to stop and look for a safe place where there are people. If you are suspicious, do not open the door and call the police.