Leaving your car on your driveway or in a garage overnight? While investing in car security solutions such as steering wheel locks or security cameras can keep car thieves away, car theft remains a significant concern for vehicle owners across the UK.
That’s why we’ve pulled together our top tips, in addition to vehicle security devices, to keep your car as protected from theft as possible.
How to protect your car from theft
1. Turn your car wheels into the kerb
A simple but effective trick to deter thieves is to turn your wheels into the kerb or towards another vehicle. As a result, this will make it a lot harder for thieves to make a speedy getaway in your car.
If thieves manage to break in and get your engine started, they’ll still need to straighten up your car by performing some reversing or manoeuvring.
This added difficulty may deter thieves, make the process more complicated, and provide you with the time to call the police and note down their description.
2. Get a steering wheel lock
Steering wheel locks are great at preventing car theft because:
- They act as a visual deterrent, making theft seem harder.
- They’re physically difficult to remove from the steering wheel, if you go for one with a high Sold Secure rating.
Often, opportunist thieves who rely on a quick getaway will simply walk by a car that has a lock on the steering wheel.
Two of our favourite options for car steering locks are the Disklok Steering Lock and Stoplock Pro Elite Steering Wheel Immobiliser.
The Disklok encases your whole steering wheel and spins on attack to prevent the wheel from being turned. An anti-drill and anti-pick lock makes it difficult for thieves to remove, while the lock protects against both traditional theft and advanced theft techniques like key cloning and keyless entry.
Comparatively, the Stoplock wraps around your steering wheel and is extremely difficult to remove, even with heavy-duty tools. It’s easy to fit, with both keys and a unique key code for an additional level of security, and is a great visual deterrent.
Check out our Car Security Buyer’s Guide for the best steering wheel locks and other car security accessories.
3. Keep your valuables out of sight
While this might be obvious, when you’re out and about it’s easy to forget when you park your car at home. Try hiding any expensive electronics in the boot or take them into your house.
The only electronic piece of equipment to leave alone in your car, should be a dash cam that records even with the engine switched off.
How do dash cams prevent car theft?
- If thieves bump the car, the dash cam will record everything.
- It may act as a visual deterrent if it’s visible. No thief wants their face to be recorded on camera!
For a dash cam with parking mode, we recommend the Nextbase IQ Smart Dash Cam. It will automatically switch to Intelligent Parking Mode when your ignition is switched off and will continue to monitor your vehicle when you’re not around. It will record and store footage for review later, or can even alert you to any incidents in real-time.
4. Invest in security window etching
Did you know that etched vehicles are 45% less likely to be stolen and 50% more likely to be recovered than non-etched vehicles? This makes the Security Window Etching Service a hassle-free, yet highly effective way of deterring and detecting vehicle crime.
A Security Window Etching Service consists of:
- Etching all of a vehicle’s windows with the logo of the International Security Register (ISR).
- It will also be marked with a code unique to your vehicle that is linked to a fully certified and secure database. This is used by police forces across the UK and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
At only £20, the Security Window Etching Service is a small price to pay to enhance your vehicle’s security and a worthy investment.
5. Pick up an at-home security camera
Technology has come a long way in such a short space of time, especially in the home security industry. A CCTV security camera watches over your car at all times, providing both protection and the ability to record vital footage.
Security cameras often come with various night vision modes and features like:
- AI-powered people-detection with trespassing notifications to your smartphone and alarms.
- Crisp HD resolution.
- A weather-proof body for all-weather protection.
- 24/7 access to a security live stream.
- Adjustable camera angles.
As a top tip, try including a sign on your car or nearby saying that theft is being watched by CCTV. This is likely to put them off from attempting the crime in the first place.
6. Use security lights
If a thief is going to attempt to steal your vehicle, you should make them clearly visible to the world. A driveway security light will instantly light up when an intruder sets foot onto your driveway or land.
This should either alert you or your neighbours, scare the thieves off entirely or make it easier for you to record them committing the crime.
7. Get an Anti-RFID wallet
Did you know that thieves can create a clone of the unique system on the key fob that allows you to lock your car remotely?
Although smart thieves can use technology to unlock your car without your knowledge, they still need access to the signal from your key fob before they can clone it. Instead of shoving your keys in a drawer or leaving them in your pocket, invest in an Anti RFID blocking wallet that will prevent readers from accessing the signal. It’s a small amount of money to prevent your car from disappearing altogether!
By following these tips and maybe investing in a couple of deterrents, you’ll remain one step ahead of the thieves – plus your insurance premium will hopefully stay at a sensible level. Shop our full range of car security solutions online now.
