Although vehicle crime is steadily falling, having peaked in 1995, Home Office figures show that vehicle crime still accounts for 19% of all reported crime in England and Wales. Between 2006-2007 close to 1.7 million vehicle-related thefts were recorded.
A good majority of vehicle crime is opportunistic and therefore, with the aide of little bit of common sense, preventable.
Engine immobilisers are an excellent way to stop someone stealing your car. They work by preventing a thief from starting your engine unless they are using the correct key (or token). Some immobilisers are fitted to the car by the car manufacturer. However immobilisers made by a company called Thatcham are considered to be the best. Most car insurance companies will even discount your premium if you have a Thatcham immobilisers fitted to your your.
If your car hasn't a car alarm fitted, many cars now come with alarms fitted as standard, then get one fitted. It is advisable that you allow a professional to install it.
Fit locking wheel nuts and bolts. These are cheap and easy to fit. They prevent the theft of wheels from your car.
When leaving your car parked use a steering wheel lock. These are devices which attach securely to your the steering wheel thus locking it. They are effective not only in the way that they work but also due to the fact that they are highly visible.
Never leave anything on display when you park your car. Even an old coat or a plastic bag can be tempting to a thief. If your car stereo can be removed then remove it.
Have your car registration number or the last seven digits of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etched onto all windows. This makes your car more easily identifiable and harder for a thief to sell your car on.
When parking at home always use your garage if you have one. When parking outside always try to park in an attended or CCTV enabled car park.
When buying a used car get one of the commercial databases such as HPI Group Ltd to check the cars history. These databases can tell you if the car has been reported stolen or written off after an accident.
