Your Car
Apart from your home, your car is probably the most valuable thing you own. And yet it´s also the one most at risk.
Car crime is now a problem that affects us all, no matter where we live.
Car thefts, and thefts from cars, make up almost a third of all reported crime. About one in four cars reported missing each year is never recovered, but these statistics can never take account of the inconvenience caused to you, the owner. If the car is not recovered, it can take a month or more before insurance claims are paid out, not to mention the high costs involved if you have to hire a replacement car to keep you mobile.
Your frustration may not end there. If returned, your car may be badly damaged – in need of repair or beyond use. It´s only after the insurance company´s inspection that you can finally put your vehicle in for what could be expensive repairs.
It all adds up to a lot of delay and inconvenience.
The Police are coming up with ever-more sophisticated means of catching car criminals, such as the use of forensics to lift and identify DNA and fingerprints. But you can stop it from getting that far... Don´t give criminals the opportunity, and make sure car crime isn't something that happens to you.
Car contents
Car stereos and clothes - these are the most common items stolen from cars. But pretty much anything will get taken: CDs and tapes, tools, laptop computers, mobile phones, bags, briefcases, sunglasses and credit cards. The reason why things get taken is usually because they're on view for all to see.
Get rid of the temptation of a would-be thief by hiding everything away. If they can't see it they won't know it's there. Even shopping bags, cigarettes and loose change can encourage a break-in. As you can't hide your stereo out of sight, here are some tips to prevent it getting stolen.
Many modern in-car entertainment systems have security built in, for example removable faces on the stereo itself. If yours has this feature, use it. Remove the face and take it with you, even if your leaving your car for just a short time. Another modern feature is a built-in security code. If the stereo is removed and fitted to another car the code is needed or it won't work. Keep the note of your code number somewhere safe in your house and never anywhere inside your car. Also keep a note of the serial number of the stereo somewhere safe in your home.
With some older stereos you can remove the whole unit. Although it might not always be practical to carry the unit around with you, do so as much as you can, especially when leaving your car overnight or when you're at work during the day. Etch the vehicle identification number and your postcode onto the stereo and mark it invisibly with an ultra-violet pen. See property marking for more information.
Around 150,000 tax disks are taken from cars each year. These can be tampered with and sold on to someone else. You can protect your tax disk with a tamper proof disk holder, available from the Post Office. This could save you the hassle of a broken window or having to buy a replacement disk.
Safety Tips for your Car
We've listed some key points to follow, which should help keep your car safe:
- Luggage and valuables - Never leave anything on display. Take your things with you, or lock them out of sight in the boot. Don't keep credit cards or cheque books in the glove compartment.
- Doors - Lock them every time you leave your car, even if it's for a couple of minutes because a couple of minutes is all a thief needs.
- Windows - Etch an identification number, such as your registration number, on all the glassware. Thieves don't want the expense of a complete replacement.
- Ignition key - Always take it out of the ignition when you leave your car, even when your car is in the garage.
- Alarms - If you have one, turn it on every time you park.
- Cassettes and radios - The latest security-coded equipment won't work if someone tampers with it and disconnects it from the battery. Some car stereos - or a part of them - can easily be removed and taken out of the car.
- Wheels - Alloy wheels don't come cheap. To protect them, lockable wheel nuts are an effective deterrent.
- Aerials - Put your aerial down when you park.
- Immobilisers - Most cars already have steering locks, but an additional immobilising device is worth considering.
- Fuel cap - A lockable fuel cap forces thieves to abandon your car when it's run out of petrol.
- Documents - Your registration document, MOT and insurance certificate could help a thief sell your car. Keep them in a safe place at home, not in the car itself.
- Parking - When at home, the safest place to park is you garage, if you have one. If not, choose a busy, well-lit area. Thieves won't risk being seen.
And remember... Thieves like older cars, too. In fact, to some extent thieves prefer them, especially so-called 'joy riders', as they don't usually have sophisticated built-in security.
Useful Links
If you'd like further information on or help with Property Safety, please check out some of the links below:
Leaflets and Information
The Home Office web site offers information on a variety of Crime Reduction matters, including statistics, policies, advice and published material.