Your car may be the most expensive thing you own. It is also the most likely target for a thief.
No doubt your car is more than just a means to get you from A to B, but will hold a special place in your family as a work horse, a means to travel to social events, to protect you from the rain, and give you something to wash and polish on Sundays.
About a quarter of all crimes are car thefts or thefts of items from cars, like radios and CD players. If your car is stolen you may not get it back. One in four stolen cars is never found. Even if your car is found it may be badly damaged. A lot of car crime can be stopped with a little thought.
Let us look at some very simple basics;
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Secure Parking spaces
Most towns and cities have public car parks, some of which have attained a level of security or safety which gains them the Park Mark accreditation. These car parks have had their design, layout and procedures reviewed to ensure a standard of security and safety expected from public run facilities. Look out for the Park Mark logo to know that you’re parking in one of the safest areas around.
Check out their website and find car parks in your area that have attained this accreditation.
Vehicle security marking.
You may consider having vehicle parts etched with your Registration Number, electronically tagged using a `Data Tag` system, or marked using such items as the `Alpha Scientific`, ALPHA-DOT system, available through many good hardware stores, car accessory supplier or motorcycle dealers.
If you are going to review your car security, why not also consider looking at your garage security as well.
Don’t forget to check your Insurance Policy. Not all Insurance Companies hand out too willingly, especially if they discover that you have been negligent in the security of your vehicle.
BUYING A USED CAR
When buying a second hand car always think about security features and check whether it has been stolen.
Criminals will attempt to disguise the identity of a stolen car before selling on to an innocent car buyer – a process commonly known as ‘ringing’. It is worth following the advice given below.
1. Ask your dealer if they use a commercial database to confirm whether or not a vehicle has been reported as being stolen, has been written off by an insurance company, or is still being paid for under a finance agreement.
2. You can also contact HPI Group Limited direct on 01722 422422 or www.hpicheck.com and for a small charge they can check the status of the car you’re buying.
3. Be cautious if you are buying privately. Meet the seller at their house and look around for signs of car dealing.
4. Check the cars chassis and VIN including any etched surfaces and make sure they match those shown on the documents. Check the vehicle registration document hasn’t been tampered with.
5. Be wary if any signs of etching have been removed.
6. If there is a mark showing that the vehicle is linked to any security register, check it out.
7. Do not buy if the seller cannot produce the vehicle registration document.
8. If you buy a car at an auction, take advantage of ‘indemnity clauses’.
For a small fee you are protected if you find you’ve bought a stolen vehicle.
9. Consider having the vehicle professionally inspected by an organisation such as AA or RAC before you buy.
BUY A NEW CAR
When buying a new car, always check what security features it has. You should insist that the model you intend to buy has built in security features. You should also check what insurance group the exact model you are intending to buy is in. All models are placed in one of 20 groups depending upon a number of factors, one being its security features. The group your car is in will affect the insurance premiums.
Below are some security features that you should check for.
1. An electronic immobiliser
2. A car alarm
3. Doors fitted with deadlocks or new electronic locks
4. A central locking system
5. A visible VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). This is the unique number, which identifies your car from every other one on the road. Most manufacturers now bond the VIN plate to the dashboard of the car so that it can be seen through the windscreen. A thief knows that if he steals a car marked in this way he will have to remove the whole windscreen and damage the dashboard before he can sell it on. VIN’s also help the police check a vehicles identity.
6. Etching. The vehicles VIN number on all glass surfaces.
7. Security Glazing. Specially strengthened glass fitted to the side and rear windows of your car makes it more difficult for a thief to break in, particularly if deadlocks have also been fitted. This glass unfortunately isn’t fitted as standard.
8. Stereo. Look for a stereo, which has a removable front panel or a security code. Some manufacturers are now fitting stereo equipment, which has its parts spread throughout the vehicle.
9. Lockable fuel cap
10. Lockable Wheel Nuts. These are especially important if you have expensive alloy wheels.
11. Tracking Devices. These enable a car to be tracked by the police or system operator if it is stolen. If you are buying a particular desirable car, a tracking device may be a condition of your insurance.
For further advice consider contacting your local Police Crime Prevention Officer, or any of the companies listed in the contacts page.
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