Car theft is on the up – figures in 2016 indicated a 30 per cent increase over 2013, with the rise blamed on clever gangs of car thieves outwitting sophisticated electronic security measures.
So, with complex keyless entry systems proving a weak point into cars, could a return to more low-tech security measures keep your car and its contents safe from thieves?
Here are our top tips for keeping your car safe – regardless of its age.
Think before you park
Location, location, location. Parking a flash car in a seedy neighbourhood is rarely a good idea, and if you take just a minute to seek out a better spot your car will be much less likely to be nicked.
Try to park in busy, well-lit areas – with CCTV coverage if at all possible. When at home, make use of what you have. If you have a garage, use it. After all, what’s more important – protecting your £150 lawnmower, or your £20,000+ car?
Don’t be lazy
It’s tempting to leave the keys in the ignition and the car unlocked sometimes. Popping out to pay for petrol, defrosting the windscreen in the morning, or just grabbing something from the boot? Always switch off, take the keys and lock the car.
Opportunistic thieves often have their eyes peeled for inattentive owners, and a car with the keys inside is practically an open invitation.
Don’t tempt fate
Do you empty your car every time you use it? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be cautious. Hide valuables out of sight – purses, wallets, laptops or tablets, and especially smartphones or sat-navs.
Place them in a lockable compartment, such as the glove box or the boot, and don’t forget to remove any cradles or holsters – an empty sat-nav holder, or suction rings on the windscreen are a sure sign that there’s a sat-nav hidden in the car.
Store your keys safely
Think about where you put your car keys when you get home. If they’re too close to your front door, they’re an easy target – not to mention thieves can boost keyless systems if they can get close enough, allowing them access to your car.
If you’re really worried, it’s possible to get special pouches which block the signals from your keyless fob, so the car only unlocks when you want it to.
Consider physical security
In the old days, a steering lock was a bright yellow deterrent to theft – opportunistic robbers avoided cars with them fitted, because stealing them would be too noisy and difficult.
The same can apply today. While cheap steering locks are easy to defeat, devices like the award-winning Disklok are impossible to get through without some seriously heavy machinery. They can be bulky to use on a daily driver, but on an occasional or weekend car they’re ideal.
Fit a tracker
GPS trackers used to be expensive and bulky, but new tech means they’re now unobtrusive, inexpensive, and a must-have to protect your precious motors.
A device such as the Oxford Tracker is barely thicker than a pencil, requires no power supply or recharging, and costs just £84 for a 12-month subscription.
Conceal this in your car and regardless of where it ends up, you’ll be able to track it on your smartphone.
Fit an alarm and immobiliser
Most modern cars will have these fitted as standard, but if you’re running an older car without many security measures then they can be worthy investments.
A professionally fitted alarm and immobiliser may not prevent your car from being broken into, but it will dissuade thieves from actually taking it – and may lower your insurance.
Never leave documents or spare keys in a car
Don’t give the criminals everything – if someone does manage to gain access to your car, leaving registration documents or another key just makes the rest of their job even easier.
Keep documents and spare keys in a safe place, and they won’t find the car so easy to offload once the theft is complete.