Vehicle Crime - Making Surrey Safer - Surrey Police

     

In the mind of a car thief - Part 1




Stealing from cars - a true account

     
     

In the mind of a car thief - Part 2




Stealing cars - the reality

     
     

Radio Soundbytes

Clean cars...

Keys in the ignition...

Checking car doors...

Brand new Range Rover...

A couple of quid...

Loose change...

     
     

Vehicle crime downloads

     
Vehicle Crime

Stolen vehicles and theft from vehicles make up almost a third of all reported crime and can be a frustrating and expensive for victims. Around one-in-four vehicles reported stolen each year are never recovered – and those that are may be damaged beyond repair.

Commercial vehicle owners can be even harder hit. Theft of tools or work equipment can mean a business grinds to a halt. And no business means no income.

Thankfully most vehicle crime is opportunistic and therefore easy to prevent. Following the straightforward advice below will help to lessen your chances of becoming a victim of vehicle crime.

Protecting your personal vehicle

The essentials;

  • Always lock your vehicle and close the windows and sunroof
  • Remove all personal possessions. Thieves love to steal sat navs, laptops and mobile phones, but loose change and clothing will also encourage a break in
  • Look after your car keys and keep them out of site and secure, even when you are at home
  • Secure your number plates with tamper proof or clutch head screws.


And some extra precautions;

  • If possible, park your car in a garage and lock both the car and the garage
  • When away from home, try to park in a well lit, open location, or a police approved ‘ParkMark’ car park
  • If you have an older car, or one without an alarm, get one fitted, or use a steering lock
  • Fit a tracking device to your vehicle (and ensure you know how to activate it)
  • Have the vehicles registration number or vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each window.

Keeping your commercial vehicle safe

  • Ensure your vehicle is always locked. Lock the back doors while driving.
  • If your vehicle doesn’t have an alarm, get one fitted. Insurance companies will often give a discount for properly installed and approved alarms.
  • Never leave personal documentation in the cab of your vehicle. Anything with payment details or addresses may attract a thief.
  • Never leave tools or equipment in your vehicle overnight. No tools means no work and a big bill to replace them.
  • Keep your van keys safe while you are working. Never leave them in your vehicle.
  • Catalytic converter theft is on the increase, and ‘high clearance’ vehicles are common targets. Mark yours to deter thieves.
  • Security mark all your tools and equipment to make items uniquely identifiable and less attractive to a thief.
  • Don't buy cheap, second hand tools from a building site – they may be stolen. If you are suspicious don't risk buying stolen goods – tell the police instead.
  • Keep stops for fuel, food and other goods to a minimum. The fewer stops you need to make (leaving your vehicle unattended) the more secure it will be.
  • Make sure you have fully comprehensive insurance for your vehicle. Thieves will often 'smash and grab' causing damage that is expensive to repair and may take you off the road for several days.