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Viewing Car Thieves at Large: Tips for Improving your Car SecurityCar Thieves at Large: Tips for Improving your Car Security
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Engine immobilizers have made it almost impossible to steal most newer cars. However, professional car thieves are still on the loose. Many have turned to stealing valuable items from autos. Here are a few tips to protect your vehicle and property. By Foster Carr Since the widespread introduction of engine immobilizer systems to cars built after the late nineties, car crime has fallen dramatically. In addition, the market for second hand cars has become so saturated due to the rising cost of car ownership, that much of the incentive for stealing standard family cars has been removed. Engine immobilizers have made it virtually impossible to steal most newer cars outright, and has led to a huge reduction in the number of joyriding incidents. However, professional car thieves are still on the loose, and have turned to stealing valuable and relatively insecure items from cars such as the number plates, sat-nav systems, and catalytic converters. The precious metals that are used to make catalytic converters are worth a lot of money in their own right, and there is little you can do to prevent them from being stolen other than storing your car somewhere secure when you are not driving it or hooking the unit up to a tamper-resistant alarm system. In the event of your number plates being stolen, you should contact the police and the DVLA immediately. If your plates are used to change the identity of another vehicle, then you will be responsible for any parking or speeding penalties incurred by the driver of the vehicle bearing your plates. Furthermore, if that vehicle is involved in any further crimes, then you will be under suspicion if you did not report the theft of your plates immediately. Keep all traces of your sat-nav system out of sight when you are not in the vehicle. Even if you have taken the main console indoors with you, the suction pads, holder, or even the traces left by the suction pads may lead a thief to believe that there is a valuable sat-nav device hiding in your glove compartment and he may break in anyway. If you do not have an immobilizer fitted, you should do so if at all possible, as this is easily the most effective anti-theft device available. More than three quarters of cars on the road today are fitted with engine immobilizers, yet less than a third of those recovered by police after being stolen are fitted with such a device. As a rule, the older a car is, the easier it is to steal. Cars built before 1996 are considered a very high theft risk, whereas cars built after 1999 are considered a very low theft risk. This is mainly due to the widespread adoption of immobilizers and other technologies. However, professional thieves will go to extra lengths to steal valuable cars, such as burglary and pick pocketing, so if you have an expensive car, you should be extra careful about where you leave your keys. About the Author: Kwik Fit Insurance can offer some great deals on car insurance, especially for mature drivers and drivers with full no-claims bonus. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com) More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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