Security measures

Car thieves vary from opportunists to professionals who work in gangs, so it’s important that you take sensible precautions and perform some basic checks before you leave your vehicle.

Having your vehicle stolen or broken into is at best an inconvenience and at worst very distressing. While determined thieves would probably be able to steal or get into any vehicle, they’re usually too busy with the poorly secured ones. If your vehicle is secured, alarmed and immobilised, they may well leave it alone.

This section deals with the precautions you can take to secure your vehicle.

Modern cars come with engine immobilisers and many also have alarms fitted as standard, but there are extra precautions you can take to make it more difficult for the would-be thief.

• Use a physical immobiliser, such as a steering-wheel lock or parking-brake lock, or some other visible security device.
• Have the vehicle registration number etched on all windows.
• Install a GPS device so you can track your vehicle’s location in the event of it being stolen.
• Use a Thatcham-approved vehicle marking scheme.

Vehicle Watch

Join a Vehicle Watch scheme, if there’s one in your area. The scheme’s highvisibility stickers, displayed on the front and rear windscreens of your vehicle, act as a deterrent to would-be thieves. There are two types of sticker

• Vehicle Watch By displaying this sticker you’re inviting the police to stop your vehicle if they see it in use between midnight and 5.00 am
• 25-plus By displaying this sticker you’re also inviting the police to stop your vehicle at any time of day if it’s being driven by anyone who appears to be under the age of 25.

Stickers and additional information about the scheme can be obtained from the crime prevention officer at your local police station.

Property registers

The police have a national record of stolen property called the National Mobile Property Register. They use this searchable record of registered owners in order to return their property in the event that it’s stolen.