Vehicle Security Advice

Over a quarter of all recorded crimes are car thefts or theft from cars – like stereos and mobile phones. It’s a problem that affects us all no matter where we live. It diverts much police time and can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences.

Add to that motorbikes, bicycles, caravans, boats and commercial vehicles, and you have an awful lot of crime that can easily be avoided.

If your car is stolen or broken into, it could mean weeks of expensive inconvenience – and losing your no-claims bonus.

It may be difficult to protect your car from a determined professional thief, but most car crime is opportunist and you can put them off with vigilance and relatively cheap security precautions.

Don’t be wise after the event – take the following tips to turn the tide against car crime.

• Never leave a car door unlocked or a window or sunroof open – even when just going into a shop for a moment or two.
• Never leave ignition keys in your vehicle and never leave your vehicle unlocked, even if paying for petrol at a garage.
• Don’t leave any belongings in your car. A thief won’t know that a bag or coat doesn’t contain something valuable and might break a window to get at it. If you can’t take them with you, never leave things on display – lock them in the boot.
• Security mark your stereo and if it’s removable, always take it with you. Make a note of the serial number and keep it in a safe place.
• Don’t leave credit cards or cheque books in the glove compartment. 1 in 5 stolen cheque and credit cards are taken from cars.
• Never leave your vehicle documents in the car – they could help a thief sell it.
• Remove the ignition key and engage the steering lock – even when parking in your own driveway or garage – and don’t forget to lock the garage door.
• At home, always park in your garage if you have one. You can get reduced insurance premiums if your car is not parked on the highway. When away from home, always try to park in a well-lit, open location.
• Double-check that all car doors, windows, sunroof and boot are locked before leaving it. And put your aerial down to stop it being vandalised.
• Etch the car’s registration number on all glass surfaces – windows, headlamps, sunroof. Thieves don’t want the expense of replacement.
• Fit lockable wheel nuts and fuel cap.
• Fit an anti-theft device – and use it every time you park. There are many types of car security device on the market – from steering wheel and clutch pedal locks to sophisticated electronic protection. Alarms should conform to BS6803. Check before you buy – is it Sold Secure Pact Approved (see below)?
• A lockable petrol cap forces thieves to abandon your car when it runs out of petrol.
• If you have an alarm turn it on every time you park.
• An additional immobilising device is worth considering.
• Your insurance company may also be able to give you advice on approved security devices.

It is the role of Sold Secure to test and provide professional and accurate advice regarding effective security products to commercial customers, the insurance industry, the Home Office, the Police and the public.
Sold Secure is a non-profit making company dedicated to reducing the risk of theft by the assessment of security products. Sold Secure was established in 1992 by Northumbria and Essex Police with the help and backing of the Home Office. It is now administered by the Master Locksmiths Association.

The scheme has close ties with a number of constabularies and insurers who provide regular information regarding the methods of theft and the tools utilised by criminals in their area. This helps to maintain an up to date specification and means security products can be assessed in the light of the risk they are likely to encounter when in use.

Manufacturers and suppliers can apply to have their products approved by Sold Secure. Products which have been satisfactorily assessed may bear the Sold Secure Quality Mark. Information on these approved products is circulated by Sold Secure to crime prevention officers, insurance companies, the media, the Home Office and the public, and is available free to those who require it.

For more information visit the Sold Secure or Thatcham websites.

• Always carry a torch with you and make sure it is working.
• Always keep your car well maintained to avoid possible breakdown, especially in 'out of the way' places. Ensure you have enough petrol. If you should break down, lock yourself in your car and wait for help to arrive. Otherwise you must take the utmost care in seeking help. Make for any lights you can see, ask for a telephone. Do not seek lifts. Use caution.
• Where possible try to travel on well lighted or populated streets and avoid narrow lanes.
• Never pick up hitchhikers and never hitchhike yourself.
• Always check the back seat and floor of your car before you enter it.
• Before driving away remember to fasten your safety belt.
• Never leave valuables, including your handbag and purse, on the seat beside you. Lock them in the glove compartment, in the boot, or place them on the floor.
• Avoid travelling alone or at night. Any known companion is better than none. If you have to travel alone, where possible inform friends at both departure and destination points of the time of your journey and routes.
• Be careful where you park your vehicle at night. Select a well-lit spot. No type of criminal likes light.
• Do not stop to assist the apparently disabled motorist or person involved in accidents. Drive to the nearest telephone and summon assistance.
• If another car seems to be following you, DO NOT DRIVE HOME, or to any deserted area. Keep driving. Obtain the registration number of the vehicle. Memorise it or write it down and drive to your nearest Police Station or place where plenty of people are present. Report the incident to the Police.
• Be extra alert at junctions, traffic lights and stop signs. Always remain in gear for short stops. If your safety is threatened, sound your horn and drive away.

Car-jacking has become a high-profile crime over recent years, mainly because media attention has made people aware of it.

You can help prevent yourself being a victim of car-jacking by:

• Keeping your doors locked in built up areas, and trying to keep the windows wound up, especially at traffic lights;
• Being aware of what people are doing around you;
• Using the middle lane, if there is one, when waiting at junctions or lights, so that your car is harder to get to from the pavement;
• Not stopping to help someone who has broken down (if you really want to help, pull over at the next garage or police station, and call for help); and
• Driving to the next garage or police station and reporting them if someone tries to pull you over for no reason.

Sometimes carjackers may 'accidentally' bump into your car, aiming to get you out of the car so that they can steal it. If this happens, you may choose not to get out of the car – especially if you do not think it is a genuine accident. Wind the window down a little bit to talk to them if you want to.

Most car sellers are genuine, whether it is a private sale or through a garage. However, some traders are not genuine and may sell on stolen cars. You can protect yourself by following the advice:

• If you buy a used car from a reputable dealer and it turns out to be stolen, there should be no problem.
• Contact an organisation, such as the AA or RAC, who will be able to tell you whether the vehicle has been stolen or in a crash.
• If buying privately, always arrange to meet the person selling the car at their house, not your house or at another meeting place. While there, see if there are any signs that they are dealing - e.g. other cars for sale or lots of spare parts.
• Check any security etchings to make sure they match and have not been removed. Never buy a car if the etching has been tampered with.
• Always check the registration documents and service history.
• Always try to take someone with you who knows about cars. Again the AA and others provide this service for a small fee.
• Always check the VIN (vehicle identification number) plates against the numbers on the registration document and the other VIN plates. These are usually found on the engine and on the chassis under the bonnet, although many new cars have it on the dashboard. If you don't know where they are, find out before you go and look at a car.
• Check that the registration document hasn't been tampered with. Never buy a car without a vehicle registration document.

For more information contact the DVLA or visit the government's 'secure your motor' website and click on "How not to buy a stolen car", which includes information on what to do if you discover that you have bought a stolen vehicle

With satellite navigation equipment becoming more popular with motorists, it is also becoming more popular with criminals

Where it's portable keep it safe by taking it, together with the support cradle and suction pads, with you when you leave the car. Remember to wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves will look out for these.

Don't leave the equipment in the glove compartment, thieves will usually check there first. If it must be left in the vehicle, turn it off and place it in the boot.
Do not programme your system with your address under 'Home' - use your postcode instead.

You can also help by following these tips:

• Mark your satellite navigation equipment system with your postcode and house number or your vehicle registration number or another unique number, using special security markers.
• Making a note of the make, model and serial number of the equipment and keeping the note somewhere safe ­ not in the car. Consider recording this information on one of the commercially available asset registers.
  

If you have a garage, use it. Always lock your car and garage. If you don't have a garage, always try to park in a well lit, open area. When away from home avoid parking in places that are unattended, have easy access, are concealed from public view and have many escape routes - these are the sort of places thieves operate in. When parking in a public car park try to follow these rules:

• Look for one that is well supervised, with restricted entry and exit points, good lighting and security cameras. In multi-storey car parks, choose a widely visible bay.
• Car parks are a target for thieves and a source of fear for many people. A police scheme – ‘Secured Car Parks’ – aims to make car parks safer, more attractive places – by setting high crime prevention standards of internal design and layout. Those measuring up are entitled to display the official gold or silver ‘Secured Car Parks’ emblem. To find out about ‘Secured Car Parks’ in your area, contact the crime prevention officer at your local police station.

Vehicle Crime: Motorbikes

Motorcycles are a target for both opportunist and professional thieves, who steal bikes for resale, or for the market in motorcycle parts. Take the same measures for parking as with cars.

• Always lock up your motorbike when you leave it. Put the steering lock on, and wherever possible use a steel cable, padlock or U-lock to attach it to an immovable object or another motorcycle.
• Fit an alarm, available from DIY or bike shops. Some shops and dealers offer discounts on security devices when you buy a motorcycle or other equipment.
• Mark your motorcycle with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), registration number or your postcode. You can do this with an engraving or etching kit, or use a security marker pen. If you use indelible ink or an ultraviolet pen, remember to renew the markings ever few weeks before they begin to fade.
• Anti-theft schemes encourage motorcyclists and others to spot motorcycle theft and generate new ideas to tackle it. Contact your local police crime prevention officer or a motorcycle support group, such as the Motorcycle Action Group, for information about local groups and advice on how to set up new ones.
• Follow the tips for buying a used car when buying a used bike.
• Try to use parking built especially for motorbikes with stands or security loops and use your garage or security loop at home.

Remember, most bike crime can be prevented. Don't give criminals an easy ride

Vehicle Crime: Bicycles

Over 100,000 bicycles are reported stolen every year. They are a popular target with thieves because they can easily be sold. They should be locked whenever you leave them, even if you are just going into a shop. Mark the frame with your postcode. This will help the police get it back to you if they find it – they have thousands of unclaimed unidentified bicycles. Find out if your local police station, or cycle dealer does this free.

Get your bike frame marked with your postcode and stick on a ‘Coded Cycle’ sticker to let thieves know.

Get a ‘recorded cycle’ form from your local police station or bicycle dealer and take a photograph. Record all your bike’s details so that if your bike is stolen and then recovered, the police will be able to match it to the description.

The best kind of bicycle locks are made of a loop of solid metal. Chains deter casual thieves but can be easily cut with the right equipment. Look for Sold Secure Ltd approved locks, or ask for a recommendation at a bike shop.

Always lock your bike to something solid like a lamp-post or railings. If you have quick release wheels, take off the front wheel and lock it to the frame and back wheel.

Remember, most bike crime can be prevented. Don't give criminals an easy ride

Vehicle Crime: Caravan

Although modest in number, the 3000 or so caravans reported stolen each year represent major inconvenience to their owners. A caravan is an extension to your home and theft hits right at the centre of the emotions.

Consumers can help protect their caravan for literally pennies. By writing the caravan VIN number in hidden places, such as on the underside of drawers, in cupboards and on other areas of bare wood, owners can help the police to identify their caravan if it is ever stolen. Make sure you use a permanent marker pen to do this.

Owners should also consider other security measures. These include locking the caravan coupling head into a cover using a good quality hitchlock and fitting locking wheel nuts. Don't forget to close all windows and doors, including the roof light every time you leave your caravan and remember never to leave anything valuable on display including anything with your home address on it.

After-market security aids are essential in protecting your caravan. When choosing a product try and ensure it comes with "Sold Secure" approval. Sold Secure is an independent test house that puts market security aids through the rigours of testing.

The CRiS scheme is an important tool in the fight against caravan crime. As the central database for caravan owner registrations it is a key component, not just in identifying stolen caravans, but in combating finance and insurance fraud. CRiS checks are available online through HPI Check ltd. All caravans manufactured by members of the National Caravan Council since 1992 have been automatically registered with CRiS and since 1996 have had the additional benefit of an electronic transponder fitted to allow covert checking by police forces. Since early 2001, the scheme has also accommodated caravans manufactured before 1992 and an application pack is available direct from CRiS. It is essential that when buying a used caravan the purchaser carries out a CRiS check. For a modest fee, they can then buy confidently knowing that the caravan they are buying is what the seller claims it to be.

As part of the Government strategy for reducing vehicle crime, the caravan sector have established a leisure sector task group. Reporting direct into the main Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT) committee, the task group has initiated a number of projects aimed at reducing the number of caravans stolen each year.

Aims & Objectives
To reduce the opportunity for caravan theft and improve the recovery rate when it does happen.

Membership
Under the Chairmanship of the Director General of the National Caravan Council, the group consists of representatives from the Home Office, user organisations, the Camping & Caravanning Club and the Caravan Club, the Caravan Registration & Identification Scheme, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the National Trailer & Towing Association, Bedfordshire Police, the Association of British Insurers, the British Marine Federation and the Caravan Insurance Theft and Research Group.

Tasks / Initiatives
The group has initiated a range of projects targeting the consumer, industry and the police:

• A new consumer awareness leaflet has been launched which is available from caravan dealers and the clubs,
• A single point of access for stolen caravan data and the expansion of CRiS to other light trailer markets.

As the group quickly identified a lack of product knowledge within the police, which inhibited effective policing, a training video and workbook was produced and sent to every police force in the country to help them play their part effectively in the battle against caravan crime. Working together, the industry and consumer organisations have funded this important and strategic initiative.

Vehicle Crime: Boats

It is important that you take the security of your boat as seriously as you would your own home. Thieves are attracted to all kinds of things on your boat. They could take your outboard motor, life raft or expensive marine equipment. They'll also steal anything else that takes their fancy - your radio, tools, wetsuits, water skis, fishing rods and even the boat itself.

You have to spend a lot of money buying and then maintaining your boat, so the last thing you want is to be a victim of theft. That's why it is so important to make sure that your boat is secure. Follow the advice outlined below and you will go a long way towards keeping your boat secure from thieves.

Thieves are always on the look out for easy targets. Don't make yourself an easy target. Always follow these simple steps:

• Never leave anything valuable on display, however small and insignificant it may seem. Thieves steal first and think about value later.
• Don't leave anything loose in the cock pit or on the deck.
• Don't leave your engine key in the ignition - always take it with you.
• Keep your boat keys separate from your engine keys.
• Always keep your boat locked when no-one is on board, even for a short time.
• Use strong padlocks or rimlocks on all your hatches, entry points and cockpit lockers.

Improve your security:

Constantly check and improve the security on your boat. It's a good idea to fit an alarm and use a visible sticker to say that one is fitted. Make sure your cockpit lockers can be properly locked, and check that your main hatch and fore-hatch are strong. Also think about having a strongbox down below. If you don't think something is secure, get it fixed.

Once you’ve tied up alongside, always do a quick security check before going ashore:

• Lock anything valuable out of sight in a strong locker secured by a strong padlock.
• Lock up emergency money away from other valuables.
• Keep your curtains closed so that no-one can look in.
• Keep unused ropes, fenders and other items out of sight in your cockpit lockers and cupboards – and always lock them away
• Make sure that your life raft and outboard motor are secure, as these are valuable and attractive to boat thieves

When you go ashore from a dinghy, always remove your oars or paddles, rowlocks or pump, and secure the dinghy with a strong chain and padlock.

If you are the victim of a boat theft, call the police immediately and tell the harbour master or boatyard manager. Check to make sure that your boat is still seaworthy and hasn’t been badly damaged. And, if you can, check that neighbouring boats haven’t been broken into as well.

Get to know other boat owners in your marina and work together to keep the marina secure. You can do the following:

• Keep an eye on other boats, as well as your own.
• Report any strangers at the marina to the harbour master or yard master.
• Don’t give your marina access card or key to other people.
• Never tell anyone else the access code to the marina.
• Don’t let strangers into the marina, however genuine they may seem.
• Keep the marina gate closed at all times.

Keep a list of all the serial numbers on valuables like your radio, navigation equipment or outboard motor. Keep a copy of the list at home and on your boat. This can help you, the police and your insurance company if you have a break-in.

HPI Ltd is working with the British Marine Federation and the Home Office to tag both new and second-hand boats under the new Boatmark scheme. The electronic tags are programmed with the unique 14-character Hull Identification Number (HIN), introduced as a standard feature of all new boats in 1998. Once the number has been put on the boat, it is very difficult to destroy the boat’s original identity.

The tags will be fitted by people who build new boats or by the owners. In both cases, the boat’s identity and specification will be linked to the information carried by the tag and recorded on the Boatmark database, allowing both the police and buyers to find out if a boat has been stolen.

For more information phone Boatmark

• Mark everything that you buy for your boat with your home postcode.
• Keep your list of serial numbers up to date.
• Take your ship and personal papers with you – don’t leave them on board.
• Don’t leave your home address on show.
• Keep everything securely locked away because your insurance company may not pay out if you don’t.