New data from The Office of National Statistics indicated that there were 361,045 motor vehicle thefts in England and Wales between April 2021 and March 2022.
With this in mind, Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing has shared six essential hacks that will help keep your car more secure, and deter thieves.
1. Use a Faraday Pouch
“Today, criminals can be extremely tech-savvy and carry out car theft electronically by hacking your electronic car keyfob using radio signals. This can be a virtually silent way to steal a car, and can be done in under a minute if the thieves know where the key fob is.
One way to prevent this is by purchasing a Faraday pouch which is a great option for keyless car owners. The small pouch is made from signal-blocking fabric that helps to block out radio interference. This means that car thieves will not detect anything when scanning for radio signals.
If you don’t have a faraday pouch, the best way to prevent this is by keeping your keyfob away from exterior walls and doors, as that is the place thieves will most likely scan for radio signals”.
2. Use a Wheel Lock
“A wheel lock is a tough, brightly coloured metal lock clamped across your steering wheel when the car is parked. It is an inexpensive security feature that every driver should consider.
Not only does a wheel lock make it extremely difficult for thieves to drive the car away, it is also a visual deterrent which immediately makes your vehicle appear too difficult for thieves to try and steal.
You must ensure that your wheel lock key is kept in an extremely safe place outside of the car. It is not recommended to leave it in the car, as thieves could easily find it and simply unlock it proving it to be useless”.
3. Don’t Keep Valuables on Display
“If you have valuables in your car and you’re parking up, all valuables should be taken with you and not visible through the car windows. It might seem obvious, but it might happen if you’re in a rush or even if you’re just parking up for five minutes.
Thieves will see valuables and want to break in for them. Some car thieves will even see them as a little bonus, making it more likely for them to steal your vehicle. Also clean any sucker pad residue on your windscreen, as it could indicate that you’ve hidden a sat-nav somewhere in the vehicle.
“If you’ve opted for third-party insurance cover, you’ll only be covered for damage to other vehicles in the event of an accident that was deemed to be your fault. However, your policy will not cover theft of personal possessions, which is why having comprehensive car insurance policy is a much safer option.”
4. Don’t Keep Car Paperwork Inside Your Vehicle
“Always keep your car’s paperwork at home and away from the vehicle. Never keep your logbook or car service records in the vehicle as it will make it much easier for a criminal to sell the vehicle quickly.
The logbook will contain the V5C, your car’s registration document, and without this, you are unable to tax your vehicle. If your car is stolen with the V5C inside it, you must tell both the police and your insurer immediately.
Another important thing you can do is to have your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each of the windows. Car thieves want to get off cheap. They don’t want to go to the expense of replacing all the glass”.
5. Use a Car GPS Tracker
“A GPS tracking system would be a great investment for car security and you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly where your car is if it’s stolen. They can be fitted to a vehicle discreetly using an adhesive patch.
Many of us already use GPS satellite technology when using our phones – Google Maps, and Find My iPhone for example - it’s the same concept.
Some trackers rely on their own long-life battery while others can be wired up to your car’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) port. Almost all cars made after 1996 have an OBD, and you can set them up using your own SIM card”.
6. Park in a Well-Lit and Secure Location
“Where you park your car can have a dramatic impact on the likelihood of it being stolen. Thieves don’t like well-lit public roads as they’re easily seen, so side-roads or dimly lit alleys aren’t sensible.
That’s common sense, of course. But areas of high crime can be easily avoided, even if you don’t know an area well. A number of websites, like ParkMark, identify well-maintained and run public car parks. Also, consider parking your car close to other vehicles as isolated vehicles are easier to prey on."
“A number of supermarkets – Morrisons and Tesco are good examples – now rent out parking spaces to non-customers which is extremely convenient if there’s nowhere secure to park nearby”.
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