This is Money spoke to a number of vehicle security experts and put together a list of 13 tips that all car owners should follow to best protect their engine.
We enlisted the help of Thatcham Research, AA Chairman Edmund King and vehicle crime consultant Dr Ken German – previously Head of Technology at the Met’s Stolen Car Unit and with a PhD in International Vehicle Crime – to put together the ultimate list of car security tips:
1First of all, make sure your car is locked
This may seem obvious, but a large proportion of thefts are committed because the car is left unlocked or because criminals use signal blockers that block communication between your key and your car’s locks.
Drivers should always check that the vehicle is locked and that the windows are up after using a key. Listen for the locking sound and see if the lights flash and – if your car has them – the automatic door mirrors fold in.
2. Do not run your car engine to defrost the windows
In freezing temperatures, drivers may be tempted to start the car engine to defrost the windows and then return to the warmth until the windshield is clear again.
It may sound obvious, but leaving your vehicle unattended poses a major safety risk, even if you park it in your own driveway. This is illegal and there is little chance that your insurer will pay out for the damage if your car is stolen as a result.
Thieves check for stationary cars that emit exhaust fumes or whose wing mirrors are normally folded in when locked, but clearly are not.
3. Keep valuables out of sight
‘Out of sight, out of mind’. Remove all valuables from your vehicle to make it less of a target for opportunistic thieves.
4. Do you have an alarm and immobilizer?
Ensure your vehicle is fitted with a Thatcham certified alarm, immobiliser and tracking system. Some insurance policies require the installation of a tracking device so it is important that any associated monitoring subscriptions are maintained.
5. Mechanical security systems, such as a steering wheel lock, may seem old-fashioned, but they are a great deterrent
Steering wheel locks, gear shift clamps, wheel clamps and other traditional security systems can provide a strong visual deterrent to thieves.
6. Install a doorbell camera or CCTV in your home
Doorbell cameras and CCTV systems are becoming increasingly popular as a deterrent to car crime and to catch thieves.
Make sure you invest in a model with night vision mode and sharp HD resolution.
Motion-sensitive driveway lighting can also have a strong deterrent effect.
7. If you have a garage, use it!
If you have a garage, make sure there is enough space for your car, rather than using the garage as a storage space for all kinds of household clutter.
If you have multiple vehicles, give priority to the garage with the highest value. As an extra precaution, park another car in front of the garage door.
And if you have electric garage doors, don’t store the transponder inside the vehicle, like in the glove compartment. Victims have later discovered that this was the reason their property was broken into.
8. Think about where and how you park at night
Most car thefts occur at night, so this is the most important time to think about securing your vehicle.
If you don’t have a garage but do have a driveway, always park strategically.
For example, if you have a large driveway, park your car sideways so a thief has to maneuver it. If your driveway is smaller, park facing your house to increase the chance of being alerted to the lights coming on. And park with the wheels fully locked to increase the time it takes for criminals to flee. Even consider parking another, less attractive car in front of (or behind) your vehicle to prevent you from easily removing it.
People with driveways can also purchase lockable gates to restrict access. Experts say a car cover is often a deterrent because it takes a long time to remove and looks suspicious to neighbors and passersby.
If you don’t have your own parking space, try to park your car in a well-lit area (preferably with CCTV) and in a place where thieves will have difficulty manoeuvring.
Ken German tells us that some drivers are extra inventive in their attempts to protect their cars. Some previous victims have left mannequins in the driver’s seat to deter unwanted visitors.
9. Check the accreditation of the repair center and body shop to prevent key cloning
If you wish to leave your keys at a garage or bodyshop, check that they are members of a recognised code of conduct/professional standards scheme, such as The Motor Ombudsman or The British Parking Association’s Park Mark scheme.
This will reduce the chances of you becoming a victim of key cloning.
If you purchased your car second hand with only one working key, take it to an authorized repair center to have the missing key(s) removed and a spare key added as soon as possible.
10. Consider a dash cam or a car with theft alerts
Dashcams have become increasingly popular in recent years, with drivers primarily using them to demonstrate that they are not to blame for an accident.
They also act as a great deterrent to theft. This is because many of these devices will also record suspicious activity around your car when it is parked and you are not in it.
Just make sure you get one that uploads videos to the cloud and not just stores them on a memory stick in the dash cam, because you will lose that too if your car gets stolen.
Some modern vehicles now offer a ‘parking mode’, which can also detect and record movement when parked. This can be used as supporting evidence by your insurer and the police.
Many of these notifications are controlled through a smartphone app, so make sure you have the feature activated and notifications turned on.
11. Always erase a car’s stored information before selling it
Some vehicle apps and connected systems may give the previous owner access.
If the permissions are still active, make sure to erase all permissions and data associated with the previous owner.
12. ‘Locust’ thieves can strike twice
There is a new generation of ‘locust thieves’ today who rob cars while they are parked on the side of the road, or even in front of the owners’ homes.
Many people have woken up to find their cars missing wheels, hoods, grilles and even doors, making them undriveable. This is because these parts have become more valuable since the pandemic, with factory closures and delays meaning some parts are not as readily available from manufacturers as they were pre-Covid.
For example, a Porsche headlight can now be worth up to £1,000, which has led to an increase in the number of stolen parts. Wing mirrors for high-end vehicles are also easy to steal, valuable parts.
Ken German warns that falling victim to locust thieves may not be the end of the story. He says owners of cars that have stolen parts should check around and under the vehicle to make sure the thieves haven’t installed a tracking device, so they can track when the engine is idle and come back later to try to steal it.
13. Be aware of scam techniques used to steal cars
Carjacking still occurs, but in the UK it is not as common as in other countries, such as South Africa.
That said, if you drive an expensive car, it is wise to drive with the doors locked in traffic.
Also drive defensively in traffic jams and make sure there is enough space in front of you so that you can get out of a tight spot if necessary.
If your vehicle is hit from behind, wait to stop and find a safe place where people are. If you are suspicious, do not unlock the door and call the police.