Newer cars are less likely to be stolen
Vehicle crime is decreasing and technology has ensured that modern cars have never been more secure. In addition, all cars manufactured before October 1998 are fitted with electronic immobilisers. Theft of a new car is now almost impossible without first obtaining the keys.
However, thieves are getting around this obstacle by simply stealing car keys by various means including breaking into homes and garages and taking them where they’re conveniently hanging in obvious places or left on the hall table, ‘fishing’ through letter boxes or open window fanlights for keys left in view, or simply taking them out of unsecured handbags or pockets.
No matter what the age of your car, you can ensure that your keys are always kept safe and out of reach of the opportunist thief by taking a few commonsense precautions, brought to you by Safer Bridgend.
ü If you have a garage, use it. Keep your car locked and ensure your garage has an adequate locking system. Keep spare car keys in a safe place, not hanging in the garage.
ü Always keep your car keys in a secure place, out of view and away from windows and doors.
ü Never leave your car unattended with the keys in it. Unbelievably, cars are still taken from people’s drives, garage forecourts, car parks, etc while the owner has been distracted and thought the car would be safe for a minute. It takes seconds to get in an open car and drive it away.
ü Whilst out and about be sure to keep your keys safely out of view in an inside pocket of your clothes or in a closed handbag.
ü Think of your keys as cash – your car maybe worth thousands of pounds which you wouldn’t leave lying around in bundles of £20 notes to be picked up by someone else, would you?
In addition to keeping your keys safe, fit mechanical immobilisers, such as steering-wheel locks which are easy to fit yourself, not expensive and are off-putting to thieves. If your car doesn’t have an alarm, get a manufacturer-approved alarm fitted professionally.
So, now that you’ve made it difficult or impossible for anyone to steal your car, you need to make sure that your car is also an unattractive prospect for a thief to steal from.
ü Fit lockable wheel nuts, as wheels are often a target for car thieves.
ü Never ever leave any items on display in your car: cash, sat nav, CD’s, mobile phones, even empty carrier bags, etc need to be removed from the car completely, or if this is not possible then lock items away in the boot before setting off on your journey. Avoid moving items into the boot once you have parked your car.
ü When removing satellite navigation devices, wipe away the suction marks off the window or dashboard with a cloth, as upon seeing these, a thief will assume you have simply put the device in the boot of the car.
ü Buy a car stereo with a removeable front, and remove it.
ü Always park in a well-lit, open space, near a CCTV camera if possible, or choose a Park Mark safer parking facility – look out for the signs.
ü Never leave registration documents in your car.
ü Leave the glove box empty and open.
ü Always close car doors, windows and the sunroof before locking your car when leaving it unattended, even for a minute.
Bridgend is one of the lowest crime areas in South Wales. By following these simple steps you can continue to make life harder for the passing thief and help us to ensure that Bridgend remains a safe place to live and work.
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