subject: Avoiding Car Crime During The Festive Period [print this page] We may be in a hurry to get that last minute present and forget to lock the car or you may think a particular car parking spot will suffice as you rush into the nearest shop.
However we should all keep our wits about us over the festive period as many car thefts are carried out by opportunistic thieves. It is important to make sure your car has the right accessories to deter any potential thieves. If you are in the market for a new car then make sure it has a good quality alarm and an immobiliser which prevents the car from being started without the key.
Some cars even come with fitted trackers so once set up the police can track where a car is. These do not come as standard in most cars but you can have them fitted after purchase or some manufacturers particularly those of prestige Marques - may in fact offer them as an optional extra at the point of sale. Other items that you could buy are steering wheel locks and even tyre clamps as these act as a deterrent to thieves and may just save your car from being broken in to.
There are some motoring shops that also sell invisible anti-smash film for your windows. This stops your windows from being completely smashed and therefore rules out the risk of smash-and-grab which is getting increasingly common.
One of the most common crimes you hear of, especially during the Winter months, happens when drivers leave their cars running to warm up and defrost ice or snow and criminals jump into the car and drive away. Police warn against this and people never think it would happen to them. Unfortunately the days of leaving your car running outside and nipping back into the house are long gone. The simplest way not to become a victim is to stay alert and if you are going to let your car warm up, stay with it.
Satellite navigation systems can be extremely useful but beware that the suction marks they leave on the windscreen are something that thieves look out for so when you remove it make sure you rub out any marks it leaves. Its a simple tip but could make the difference between someone chancing a break-in for your sat nav or not.. The same goes for other electrical items too for example dont make it obvious that you have a stereo by putting the cover in a case and then leave it on the seat.
Parking in the winter is really important as there are plenty of parking spaces that do not offer much light or security. Always try and park in well lit areas that preferably have CCTV cameras in close proximity. At home, if you have a garage then park there and lock it up. Many peoples garage is full of junk and is one of the reasons people dont use them but a simple clear out one day can help keep your car out of harms way.
