Vehicle Crime
Vehicles have always been a popular item for criminals as they are high-cost items that are pretty easy to sell on.
The first and blatantly obvious tip is to always lock your vehicle.
It can sometimes be easy for people to leave their vehicle unlocked if they only plan to leave a vehicle for a few minutes, for example, de-icing windows, at a petrol station or to pop back into your home for something.
However, an opportunist thief only needs a few seconds to get in and out so, please ALWAYS ensure you lock your vehicle when you leave it.
And don't forget that if you leave your keys in your ignition, perhaps when defrosting, a thief can jump in and drive off in a few seconds.
This has even happened in the past with, pets, children or even baby's in the back as thieves don't take the time to check the vehicle before stealing it - which is obviously the worst possible scenario.
Parking
When at home it is always the most secure to store your vehicle in your garage but these days driveway parking is more popular so that the garage can be used for storage.
Driveway parking can, however, be used as a good deterrent to thieves, as they are less likely to burgle a home where it looks like someone is at home.
When away from your home try to park in busy areas and if at night, in a well-lit parking spot.
If you use parking lots then it is best to use one that is attended by staff and/or has CCTV cameras.
Valuables
An opportunist thief will look into vehicles for any items that might be worth stealing like purses, SatNav, cameras, computers, etc.
A quick smash and grab and your items are gone and you are also left with a damaged vehicle.
Therefore, please do not store items in your vehicle or have them out on display, especially expensive items.
Business Valuables
Vehicles like vans that are obviously used for a business are another prime target as criminals know that expensive tools and materials can often be stored inside.
It is unfeasible to empty vehicles like these so you will have to implement other security options to protect your items. These could be security lighting, additional alarms or locks - please continue to read this page and then our other guides for more ideas and details.
Steering Locks
Older vehicles will typically have less advanced security systems which can make them a tempting target for thieves.
A simple and low-cost solution is a highly visible steering lock deterrent.
These bars can be attached to your steering wheel when parking to prevent your steering wheel from rotating unless unlocked with a key.
Many will have a flashing LED warning light to further make them highly visible to potential criminals.
Wheel Clamps
Steering locks are great for most vehicles but to secure caravans, trailers and motorhomes it may be better to invest in one or more wheel clamp.
These can attach to your wheel(s) in less than ten seconds and provide good physical security as well as acting as a highly visible deterrent to criminals.
Gearstick & Handbrake Locks
These security devices slip over your gearstick and lock to your gearstick to prevent normal usage of your vehicle.
They can be bought for less than £20 and when not in use are quite compact for storage in your glove compartment or boot.
Security Posts
If you park your vehicle in your driveway then one option is to install a security post. These posts lock into a vertical position to prevent movement of your vehicle (without damage).
When you want to drive away in your vehicle, simply unlock and fold the post over so that it lays flat on your driveway.
These can also be used to prevent unwanted parking on your property when you are not there.
However, they require secure installation which may mean digging up part of your drive to concrete it in place - you can then replace your removed monoblocks to restore the look of your driveway.
The other downsides are that they are not the best-looking products and installation costs could be high.
Garage Door Blockers
If you want additional security for your up-and-over garage doors then a blocker may be a good option.
These devices bolt to the ground outside your garage and then locks in place preventing physical movement of your door.
You use a strong padlock to keep it secured in place and once unlocked you can remove the device (without the connection plate that is affixed to your driveway) to allow access to your garage.
These act as a good visual and physical deterrent from garage door attack and is quick, simple and low cost to install.
Key Fobs
If you have a key fob that wirelessly opens a vehicle's door without you having to press a button on it first then your vehicle is at a higher risk of theft.
There is a well-publicised hack that tricks both the car and real key into thinking they are in close proximity which means that a thief can open and steal cars parked more than a thousand feet away from the owner's key fob. They never have to be in possession of your keys - they simply have to be near it to transmit its signals.
To keep your keys safe, you need to shield its signals by storing it in a Faraday bag/pouch that blocks radio transmissions - you could make your own Faraday box using various items you may have around your home but this can be a bit hit-or-miss to create so it's probably easier and safer to stick to a commercial product.
Faraday bags/pouches can be bought for less than £10 and should be used whenever you are not using your car.
Key Fob Alarms
Some key fobs have a button which will sound your vehicles alarm.
This can be a great way to alert people that you need assistance e.g. health reasons or robbery.
Another usage is to hold the key fob in your hand as you go to your car in a dark or isolated location so that you can scare off attackers, muggers or thieves with one simple press.
Additionally, you could keep your fob next to your bed at night (in a Faraday bag/pouch if required) so that you can sound the vehicle alarm if you have intruders to hopefully scare off the criminal or to simply alert others that something is amiss and you need help.
Personal Data
Many people leave items in their glove box or in other areas of the vehicle which may contain personal information like addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, etc.
Please remember that thieves don't just want your items or vehicles but also your personal details for identity theft.
Marking / Etching
Marking all your windows, including windscreens and headlamps can make your vehicle a bit less desirable to thieves as disguising stolen vehicles is more difficult for them.
In fact, you have about an 85 percent chance of recovery and your vehicle is 64% less likely to be stolen in the first place.
A lot of new vehicles will already have this done for you or your dealer may offer this as a service when you purchase your vehicle.
The best thing to mark on your vehicle is either your vehicles registration number or the last 7 digits of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
You can buy manual or chemical etch tools and kits from many places to do it yourself, however, it is probably far better to use one of the many companies like AutoGlass that have an etching service.
After all, you don't want to make a mistake doing it yourself that will either look bad or damage your expensive vehicle.
GPS Tracking
One option for security as well as for other reasons is to have a live GPS tracking device installed in your vehicle.
These devices can tell you accurate live information like location, speed, fuel level, altitude, direction angle and trip duration, etc.
Some of these can be bought for under £100 and there are versions designed specifically for cars, vans, motorbikes, caravans, etc.
VHF Tracking
Unlike GPS systems which generally require your vehicle to be at street level to be tracked, VHF systems can find your vehicle even if it's hidden in an underground car park or storage container.
However, tracking systems can be pretty expensive, often requiring monthly subscription charges which can also be substantial.
Tracking Coins
There are also much smaller coin-sized devices that you would normally use to track your keys, wallet, phone, bag, or pets which could also be used for vehicles.
Be aware though that these rely on being in close proximity (about 100 feet) to someone who has the companion app on their phone passing near it.
This will then alert you with a GPS update of where your item was last seen and show you it on a map.
Similarly, if you have lost your phone you can click the button on the tracker and your phone will make a sound to assist you in finding it.
Additionally, you can buy small plugin devices that you can install in the rooms of your home so that if you can't find items with a tracker on them like your keys, you can look on the phone app and it will tell you the last room it was seen.
These sorts of trackers come in at under £30 and can be used to track anything - but they do require that you or other users are nearby.
The more people use these devices, the better the detection rate will be. The UK and indeed most of the world has a large network of ever increasing users which is making these types of trackers more reliable and useful.
Two of the big names in this category are TrackR and tile and both can be bought directly from their websites or from places like Amazon.
Key Theft
Of course, the easiest way for a thief to steal your vehicle is to get physical possession of your keys.
Criminals can use all manner of tools to reach into your home via your letterbox so do not leave keys on display in the hallway or where they could be easily reached from the front door.
Keys are often stolen via burglary – they snatch the keys from your house and drive away with your vehicle.
You should store your keys in a "secret" or perhaps more accurately an unusual place - don't leave them on a hall table or in a kitchen drawer as these are popular hiding places.
Even better than just storing them in a "secret" place is to have them stored in a strong lockable container like a safe. Please read our Belongings page for more information on safes.
Number Plate Theft
If you notice that your number plates have been stolen, call the police on 101.
Your number plates may be used to change the identity of another car which may result in you receiving penalty charges for things like parking, speeding and congestion charging.
You may even be suspected of committing crimes yourself, so let them know as soon as possible.
Additional Security
Depending on the make, model and age of your vehicle you may want to look into other security products like additional alarms, immobilisers, wheel locking nuts, catalytic converter locks, etc.
Motorbikes
As with other vehicles (mentioned above), you should never leave keys in the ignition - even for a short period of time and set its alarm if it has one.
Motorbikes are an even easier target for thieves as they can easily be wheeled away, lifted or bundled into a van in a very short time period.
Locks
The simplest and most visible deterrents are a large motorcycle chain or cable locks. But remember to secure them to an immovable object like a ground anchor, lamppost or even another motorbike.
It would also be good practice to thread the chain or cable through the frame as well as the wheels if at all possible as a criminal does not always need the whole bike if they intend to sell it on for parts.
Marking your Bike
If you could mark as many parts of your bike with its VIN (vehicle identification number) or registration number then that might put off theft or at least make it easier to recover it.
Parking
Storing your bike in your secured garage is also a great idea, especially if you can put a ground anchor in the garage and lock your bike to it.
Remember to alarm it at all times - even in your garage - as every hurdle you can put in front of a criminal means that your bike is less likely to be stolen.
Additionally, you could remove the spark plug or HT cap which is a quick and easy security measure - and doesn't cost you a penny.
As with all vehicles, it makes sense to always park your bike where it can be seen by passers-by or CCTV cameras, day or night.
It would be a good idea if you could also vary the places you park your bike so that thieves don't learn your habits.
Bicycles
Bicycles can be some of the easiest vehicles for thieves and vandals to target as they are small, light and can be easily sold on to unsuspecting customers.
Securing Your Bike
Please lock your bike to something secure, even if only for a few minutes.
Remember to try to thread your lock around as many parts of your bike as possible - like the frame, wheels and any removable parts.
Take any removable light fittings with you and your pump, water bottle and helmet.
Consider using more than one lock to secure your bike and ensure that you use a recognised security standard lock. U-locks (aka D-locks), extension cable or heavy chain locks are a great option.
Make the lock(s) and bike hard to manoeuvre when parked by ensuring there is as little room between the stand and the bike as possible.
Locks are considered more vulnerable when they come into contact with the ground, so try to keep them raised off the floor.
Avoid parking in isolated places - leave your bike in a well-lit area where a potential thief can be seen by passers-by or CCTV cameras.
Store bikes at home by locking them in a secure garage or shed to an immovable object
Register Your Bike
Register your bicycle at BikeRegister as every Police Force in the UK uses the BikeRegister database to search for stolen & recovered bikes.
If your bike is stolen you can then log onto the website and "flag" it as stolen on the database.
Registering your bike does not cost anything and gives you the following benefits:
Marking Your Bike
The BikeRegister also provide a good range of marking kits ranging from £13 to £30 which will allow you to mark your frame with your postcode or unique BikeRegister code in two separate locations, one of which should be hidden. Attach a visible "Coded Cycle" sticker to reduce the risk of making your bike a target for theft.
It is also advised that you take a clear colour photograph of your bike and make a written record of its description, frame number and include any unique features. This will help them to recover your bike if it is stolen.