Staying Safe - Vehicles
Cars, vans and motorcycles seem to suffer the most crime in any one year. Whether it is from determined thieves stealing the vehicle or something from within it, or from mindless vandalism (although it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference). This page is designed to give some suggestions to reduce the risk of theft or vandalism. However, the best advice is to keep the vehicle in a locked garage and that should be the first considered option - indeed, depending upon what you told your insurance company, you should not do anything else.
This page is arranged into blocks. Click on the topic area you are interested in and you will be taken to that topic. To return to the list, click the "return to top" link or use the scroll bar or mouse.
Basic Security
Always lock your car when you park it and set any alarm or imobiliser if you have one fitted. Obvious advice, but a large number of thefts take place from vehicles which are not locked or are left with windows left open. Clearly, you may need to leave sufficient ventillation when leaving an animal in the car, but you should probably consider whether the animal should be left there in the first place.
In the cold weather, many people start their car to warm it up while they clear the windscreens (quite rightly) of snow or ice. However, don't leave it un-attended. A number of cars were stolen with the keys in the ignition during the last year. The insurance companies take the view that such behaviour is culpable and may not pay out in the event of such thefts. Be warned as well as warmed!
Vehicle Contents
We have been advised for years that we should lock valuable items out of sight in the boot of the car or van. That should also apply to less valuable items such as coats and jackets. To a thief's eyes, the jacket may be concealing something more valuable so it may be worth breaking into the car always supposing that the jacket or coat is not in itself valuable.
Handbags are another item frequently stolen from cars. Mostly this is because the handbag is left on the passenger seat in open view where a thief only has to open the door to remove it - maybe at traffic lights or where the car is being manoevered into a parking space. Don't fall victim to this. If you put the handbag under your seat, it will not be in view and any potential thief will have to work harder to get to it.
At the moment, SatNav devices are being stolen regularly. The reason is that the device's mount leaves a tell-tale disk on the inside of the windscreen. Consider mounting the device somewhere other than the windscreen to avoid leaving the mark. And make sure you carefully clean off the windscreen mark the next time you clean the car.
Alloy wheels continue to be a target for theft. Anyone who has alloy wheels but does not secure them with locking wheel nuts must expect to become a target.
For those with enclosed vans, a sticker on the back that indicates that tools are not stored in the vehicle may help prevent thieves breaking in on the off-chance.
Motorcycle and moped owners should have a stout chain for securing their bike to a sturdy item of street furniture, the sturdier the better! Go for the best security device you can - it will pay for itself in the end!
As with a great deal of this website, the message is to encourage thieves to go elsewhere and leave your possessions alone!
Parking Away from Home
Whilst this section is titled "Parking Away from Home", the principles apply to parking near to or adjacent to your home. Always pick a well-lit and busy road to park on. Thieves don't like being observed or being too well illuminated. Those involved in vandalism are also not keen on being seen so the same applies.
When parking your car, it may also be worth considering your route to your final destination. If it is dark and not well lit, you will be less happy about the journey from and back to your car. If it is well lit, you can see any possible threat some way away and so feel safer. It is, of course, your choice but it only takes a minute's thought to help assure your security.
You can find more information about all aspects of vehicle security from:-