Car Breakdown Cover

With nearly 1.7 million car crimes recorded last year it is no wonder that vehicle related crime accounts for nearly 20% of all crime in England and Wales. Here are some hints and tips to prevent your car becoming part of the statistics.

Points of entry - Whenever you leave you car always make sure all points of entry are secured. This includes windows and sun roofs. Even the smallest opening in a window can give a thief the opportunity to force the window open.

Sat Nav - If you use portable satellite navigation equipment it is important to take it with you every time you leave the car. It is a good idea to remove the cradle and suction pads as well as cleaning off any marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as some thieves will look out for these signs and break into cars expecting to find the sat nav in the glove box.

Car Radios - The most common vehicle crime involves to theft of car stereos. If possible invest in a car radio or stereo which can be removed when you leave the car.

Logbooks - Vehicle documents are rapidly becoming a target for thieves as it is much easier for them to sell a stolen car if they have the log book. If the logbook is stolen along with your vehicle, it can be difficult to prove ownership. Keep your vehicle log book in a safe place and never leave it on display.

Never Leave Your Car Unattended With The Keys in it! Nothing makes your car easier to steal than leaving it unattended with the keys in the ignition! It may sound obvious but many people are caught out every day when they pop to the post box or to fill up on fuel. In the winter thieves are also known to target those who leave their cars unattended whilst defrosting. The only way to prevent this kind of opportunist theft is to always lock your car and take the keys with you.

Never leave valuables on display! The majority of vehicle related crime is not actually car theft, but thieves stealing valuables from inside cars. Always take all your valuables with you when you leave the car. Even if you are only popping into the shop for two minutes, that’s enough time for a thief to smash your car window and make off with your treasured possessions. Something which is worthless to you, such as an old coat or an empty box, may still tempt a thief to break in and check if there is anything valuable inside. The safest option is to avoid leaving anything at all on display.

If you must leave something of value on your car such as a laptop, always lock it in your boot where thieves can’t see it - but make sure you do this beforehand, as thieves have been known to watch people park.

Park Carefully - Thieves like dark, quiet areas where they can break in unobserved. Don’t make it easy for them! If you have to leave your car in a public car park always choose one which is secure and manned. When parking on the road stick to well lit areas and take all your valuables with you.

Show off Your Security! Invest in an immobiliser and steering lock, and be sure to put car alarm stickers on all your windows. These simple measures make your car look much more secure and as such much more of a challenge to steal or break into.  Many thieves are opportunistic and if they think your car looks like too much hard work they are much more likely to move on to an easier target.