CAR THEFT IS BECOMING more common and modern cars, despite all their security systems, can be just as vulnerable as older cars. In Australia, it is estimated that a car is stolen every ten minutes (the most stolen car in 2018 was the Holden VE Commodore). And thieves will take any vehicle that is easy to steal.
Newer and more expensive cars are targeted by professionals. Vans and utes are often stolen because the thief knows the tools they carry are valuable and easy to on-sell. A thief planning to ram raid a shop will target a bigger vehicle or one with a bull bar, sturdy bumpers or a tow bar.
Even more worryingly, thieves seem to have learnt their tactics from video games and movies and seem to think the best way to escape detection is to torch the vehicle when they’ve finished with it. If you’re the unfortunate owner, all you’re left with is a charred wreck and the problems of dealing with an insurance company, assuming you had the presence of mind to be insured.
Even if your stolen car isn’t sent up in flames, there’s every likelihood that your belongings will have been removed and anything of value stripped before the car was dumped. Or even worse, involved in a crash during a joyride or police chase. Car thieves are often unlicensed and willing to take more risks than other road users, putting themselves and others in harm’s way.
Here’s how to reduce the odds of your car being the next statistic.
- Know where your keys are
You’d be amazed to learn that increasingly, cars are stolen using the owner’s own keys. Hiding a key around the vehicle itself makes as much sense as hiding your front door key under the door mat (you don’t do that, do you?) If you are concerned about being locked out of your car, give a spare key to someone you know, like a neighbour. If your car uses keyless technology, it is even more important to not leave your keys in the car, intentionally or otherwise. If you do, a thief can get in and drive away without even having to find the key!
- Lock and secure your vehicle
People often forget that their car is vulnerable even in their own driveway. Whenever you leave your car, close and lock all the windows and doors. This especially applies in service stations – while you’re in paying the bill, an opportunist car thief can jump in and be on his way in seconds, and you’ve just given him the bonus of a full tank of fuel! And when you park your car, ensure all the windows are fully closed – a window left ajar means the thief doesn’t even have to smash a window to get access.
- Park where it’s safe
It isn’t always possible to park in a secure place, but parking in a well-lit area is a good start. So is parking near building entrances (activity tends to deter thieves) or near a closed circuit TV camera. In public car parks, if there is an attendant, parking as close to him or her is a good idea and again, if there is CCTV, try and park where your car is in range of it.
- Don’t leave valuables in your car
It is almost beyond belief how often a car is stolen because the owner left a purse, handbag or other item of value (and easily disposable for a thief) in full view of passers-by. Laptops, cameras, mobile phones, brief cases and even loose change (think how quickly a stash of $2 coins adds up) can all be sufficient incentive for a thief to break into your car. Even a portable sat nav device or in-car camera can be sufficient incentive, so put them away when you leave the car (and don’t forget the suction cup ring on the windscreen that’s a dead giveaway). If you must leave valuables in your car, keep them out of sight or, even better, in the boot, but be warned that a thief may see you stashing something valuable away and wait until you’re away to break in. And once he’s broken in, he might well decide to take the car as well. Another thing to keep in mind is a thief using your details found in the car to carry out other acts of fraud or, using your house keys, even a home burglary.
- Don’t leave your car with the engine running
Starting your car and then ducking back inside for something you’ve forgotten, or, on a cold morning, starting the car so it gets warm before you drive off, is an open invitation to a car thief. It is also illegal in some states to leave a running car unattended.
- Install an anti-theft device
Thieves are generally lazy so if your car is more difficult to steal than the one next to it, a thief will probably target the one next to it. Vehicle immobiliser systems make it almost impossible to hot wire a car. A battery isolator switch or kill switch hidden out of sight can dissuade a thief (and they’re very cheap). A visible deterrent such as one of those clubs that fit to the steering wheel or some other form of steering wheel lock will make your car less attractive. Sure, the inconvenience of fitting it or switching on the alarm system is a nuisance, but nowhere near as bad as having your car stolen. Etching vehicle identification details onto the windows will make the vehicle almost impossible to re-sell (but is unlikely to dissuade joy-riders). And one little trick is to buy some labels declaring that the vehicle is fitted with an anti-theft device, even if it isn’t.
- Subscribe to a recovery tool
The use of a tracking system is usually limited to high-risk and valuable vehicles, but if your car is stolen, knowing where it is can enable quick recovery. Most of these systems use GPS technology to locate your vehicle and inform police where the car is. Another nifty trick with many of these systems is the ability to remotely deactivate the ignition so it comes to a stop.
- Keep your car safe at home
Fitting your home with a professional security system deters criminals from stealing your car from your driveway or garage. Outdoor cameras, motion detectors, motion activated lights and mobile security alerts are all effective protection. And here’s one more vital tip. Thieves are increasingly using the owner’s keys to steal a vehicle – it’s so much easier than trying to start a car, especially a modern car, without the key. If you keep your keys near the front door, they’re easily accessible to thieves. Some enterprising criminals (in the UK in particular, where houses tend to be smaller) simply push a piece of wire through the front door, hook the keys and pull them back out through the letterbox. Burglars will almost always grab any car keys they can find and either steal the car to enable their getaway or come back and steal it later. Keep your keys secure inside the house, and away from prying eyes.