15 Mar 04
Thwart opportunist by keeping your doors locked
A fifth of all crime in England and Wales involves cars, amounting to around 320,000 'theft-of' cases each year and more than 600,000 incidents of 'theft from' cars. Some organisations peg the real number at closer to three times that amount, since most victims of 'theft from' crime never report their stolen property. That's shocking stuff - but you're not powerless in thwarting thieves. It's not just your car and your personal belongings that the following security provisions protect - they can also save you lots of cash by lowering your insurance bills. Here's our run-down of the most common thief-proofing devices currently fitted to cars, and our owner's checklist of practical steps to avoid falling victim to the opportunist criminal.
The vehicle's registration number can be etched on many parts nowadays, not just windows and headlamps. It can help police identify your car if it's been stolen.
This high-strength laminated glass is impact resistant so thieves will have a much tougher time gaining entrance to your car.
You see plenty around, usually hugging the wheels of cheaper cars. There is a vast range to choose from, and at hugely varying prices. If this is the only way you're going to be protecting your motor, we'd suggest spending a bit more for the top-drawer models, since thieves are more than capable of breaking or bypassing these devices.
It may sound inconsequential, but siphoning fuel is not as uncommon a crime as you think. And particularly if you own a car with flash alloys, you'll want to use lockable wheel nuts to protect those hubs from the more unscrupulous.
Visible VIN helps police
Make sure the car you buy has its Vehicle Identification Number displayed on a plate through the windscreen. It makes it easier for police to track it in the event of theft, and makes it less appealing to the opportunist thief.
Having the spare wheel open for display is never a wise idea. Ideally it should be located under the boot floor. Many that are stolen are those hung underneath the car, so consider getting a reinforced, locking cage for those.
These prevent the car doors from opening, even if the windows have been smashed. However, some manufacturers refuse to fit deadlocks to cars on the grounds of safety, feeling that they may also hinder escape from the vehicle in an accident.
Every new car sold today must be fitted with an engine immobiliser. If you've got a car that dates from 1998 or earlier, think about getting one installed. It will disable the car's starter motor, and make the car impossible to run, not to mention lower those insurance premiums.
Especially if you live in or around a city, an alarm is essential kit on any car, and most will come with one as standard. If it doesn't, get one fitted. Make sure your alarm is a 'Thatcham'-approved product. Thatcham is widely acknowledged by the industry as the benchmark in car security, and will also contribute to lowering the car's insurance group.
A sprayed-on tiny dot laser-etched with a car's VIN or, when applied to used cars, a unique PIN number, visible under UV light. This can be applied to key areas of the vehicle and is impossible to remove, effectively meaning that the car and its parts can always be identified.
For the slightly more affluent among us, there are systems such as Trakbak II, which linked to a car's keys and intended to close in on key thieves and car-jackers. When the car is started, the driver has to also activate a hidden verification switch. If this is not done, an alert is sent to a control centre, who will then alert the owner to ask if the car is in their possession. Satellite tracking of the car will start, and the police informed. The Trakbak data can be used as evidence in court.
