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Home Office Car Crime in Detail

Sat Navs

Satellite navigation systems, chargers and even the sat nav mountings are the top items to be stolen from parked cars.

You will promote the stolen sat nav market by buying one from a suspect source.

Here are some tips to prevent theft of the systems

Make sure you remove your Sat Nav and suction mounted fitting every time you leave your car.

Take your Sat Nav with you and wipe away the tell tale suction mark on the windscreen which may cause a thief to think that the unit is stored in the car. Purchase a case that will hold the entire equipment.

Make a note of the make, model & serial number of your Sat Nav device and any other portable equipment. Keep the information in a safe place in case the device is stolen.

Consider registering your Sat Nav with tracking agencies such as www.immobilise.com a free service which enables personal property to be registered nationally. The company is supported by all major police forces and helps to reunite owners with their property if it is stolen and then recovered. Registration can also block stolen units obtaining internet downloads.

Security mark each part of your Sat Nav system with SmartWater, or ultraviolet markers. Your vehicle registration number & post code will help the police if a stolen unit is recovered. Visit www.retainagroup.co.uk the site has a variety of security products including Sat Nav security.

Information courtesy of Colin Fleming.

Top Tips From the Home Office

• Always keep your car locked. This includes closing the sunroof and windows, even if you only leave it for a few seconds. That’s all it takes for a criminal to steal your car

• Don’t leave anything in your car, particularly when it’s parked overnight. If you’re going out during the day, put your shopping or anything else in the boot before you leave your car if you can’t take it with you.

• Park with care. Park in busy or well-lit areas near CCTV cameras, or in police-approved car parks (look out for ‘ParkMarkTM’ on signs) if possible. You can find out which car parks are approved at www.saferparking.com

• Always chain bikes, motorbikes and scooters to something fixed like security rails and ground anchors.

• Never leave car documents or spare keys inside the car. Hide them at home, but not by the door. Thieves will use a rod or pole through the letterbox to steal car keys from hall tables.

• Get a professionally fitted car alarm or a Thatcham-approved electronic immobiliser (you can find an approved installer through the Vehicle Systems Installation Board at www.vsib.co.uk), or you can use a steering lock on older cars. You can find information on products that have been tested by Thatcham or Sold Secure on www.thatcham.org 01635 868855 or www.soldsecure.com 01327 264687.

Half a million vehicles are stolen in the UK every year.

Vehicle crime accounts for more than a quarter of all reported crime.

40 percent of stolen vehicles are never returned to their owners.

Older cars are more likely to be stolen than newer ones

Property is stolen from cars every 13 seconds in England and Wales

More than 30 percent of vehicle crime happens in car parks

Common car sense

Always

Close the windows and sunroof, lock the doors and activate any security devices when leaving your car unattended.

Park with care, particularly at night or if you are leaving the vehicle for a long time. If possible, park in a busy, well-lit area.

Never

Leave cash, credit cards, cheque book, mobile phones, vehicle documents or other valuables in the car.

(If you have no choice but to do so, make sure they are hidden well out of sight before you begin your journey - thieves may be watching you park!)

Keys - keep them safe

Never leave them in the car, even for a second - treat them as you would your cash and credit cards.

Make sure they are kept in a secure place at home and at work - burglars have been known to break into houses and offices to steal car keys. Check it out

If you see anything unusual or suspicious, call the police immediately. In an emergency dial 999.

Vehicle crime is mainly committed by opportunist criminals who roam about the streets and car parks looking for the opportunity to steal our vehicles or property that we have left on view.

It only takes a few seconds to smash a window and steal something from inside a car.

But what can you do to make your car more secure?

Always use the electronic immobiliser or alarms. Automatic operation is best.

Lock the doors, windows boot and sunroof every time you leave the car - however briefly.

Use security devices. eg steering locks, cassette locks.

Never leave property of any kind on view. What cannot be seen is difficult to steal.

Never leave cheques, credit or debit cards in your car.

Keep driving documents and personal correspondence at home.

Remove keys and lock the car at filling stations or even when opening your garden gates. Always keep your keys with you.

Keep your car keys secure and out of sight in your home.

If you have a garage use it.

If you have a driveway use it.

If you have to park on the street, park where it is well seen and under street lighting and as close to home as possible.

Any questions please give us a call.

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