Car Security
Avoid being a victim of car crime
According to Home Office figures vehicle crime has fallen by 57% since 1995 but it still accounts for about a sixth of all crime and has an annual economic and social cost of £2 billion.
There are still more than 2 million vehicle related thefts every year so follow our advice and reduce the risk of becoming a victim.
Latest
Whilst most car crime is on the decrease, some specialist types of vehicle crime are bucking the trend – Both satellite navigation equipment theft and number plate theft are significant and growing problems.
If your number plates are stolen contact the Police immediately. It may seem trivial at the time but if the plates are used to change the identity of another car you can expect to start receiving fixed penalty notices for parking, speeding etc. and may even be suspected of committing crimes yourself.
Sat Nav theft
If you use portable satellite navigation equipment it's vital to take it with you whenever you leave the car. You must remove the cradle and suction pads too and clean any marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves are known to look for these telltale signs and break in anyway, expecting to find the Sat Nav tucked away in the glove compartment. The Home Office has published an advice leaflet about satellite navigation equipment theft and how to avoid it. (you will need Adobe Acrobat to view the leaflet)
Catalytic converter theft
The price of fuel may be falling now, but in these harder times the demand for precious metals, and parts that contain them, is rising – Catalytic converters are one of the new car crime targets.
Vehicle Security Advice
- Reducing Risk - a summary of AA tips to protect your property
- Alarms and Immobilisers - what to look for
- Keys - there's more to them than meets the eye
- Enhanced Protection Glazing - combatting 'smash & grab'
- Safer Parking Scheme - reducing crime in car parks
- Theft Resistant Number Plates - helping to combat cloning
- Caravan theft - around 4000 are stolen every year according to AA Insurance
While overall theft rates have fallen, the proportion of cars that have been stolen but not recovered is on the increase. Cars stolen by opportunist thieves, such as joyriders, are usually found abandoned. But cars stolen by 'professional' thieves for parts or to sell on are less likely to be recovered. Latest figures suggest more than 50% of stolen cars are not recovered.
2009 Security Award Winners (June 2009)
Find out which manufacturers and which models came out on top at the 2009 British Insurance Car Security Awards (BICSA)
2009 Award Winners - the best performing models in each category
2008 Award Winners »
Car security helps
Theft rates are higher among cars that don't have effective security devices. The British Crime survey has shown that while 75% of main household cars had some kind of immobiliser fitted, only a third (32%) of cars that were stolen had immobilisers.
- Older cars are generally much easier to steal than newer models.
- Cars built before 1996 are at high risk of theft.
- Cars built after 1996 are low theft risk.
- Those built after 1999 are very low risk.
- However, the theft of prestige models is rising – because professional criminals are targeting keys through burglary and other methods.
25 June 2009