Don't be a victim of vehicle crime!

By taking this advice you can help protect yourself from the cost, stress and inconvenience of vehicle crime —

• Take valuables with you. If you can't, then place them out of view in the boot or in a lockable glove-box. Make sure all electronic goods are switched off
• Always remove Sat Nav's or other equipment from view and remove any cradle or suction marks that could give away the fact that they may be in the vehicle
• Immobilise and alarm your vehicle every time you leave it unattended
• When parking, watch for people loitering around cars even if they are well dressed and don't necessarily look like a 'car thief'
• When locking your car using your key fob always check that the vehicle has actually locked before you move off
• Always park in a well-lit street or in a secure car park
• At home, leave your vehicle overnight in a locked garage
• Never leave your keys in the vehicle even for a moment, such as at petrol stations or to 'pop' back into your house/office
• Keep your keys out of view in a safe place. At home, place them in a drawer away from doors, windows or the letterbox
• When leaving your vehicle, check all windows, sunroofs and doors are locked and use deadlocks if fitted
• Plan your journeys in advance to avoid stopping in unfamiliar areas
• When driving, lock your doors and keep the windows closed
• If your vehicle doesn't have an alarm fitted as standard equipment, then have a Thatcham recognised alarm professionally fitted to your vehicle. You can find Thatcham listed security devices here
• Protect your expensive wheels and tyres by fitting Thatcham recognised locking wheel nuts/bolts
• When buying a new or used vehicle always use the Thatcham Star Rating to check its security levels

Additional advice if you have a motorcycle -

• When leaving your motorcycle, use a highly visible mechanical immobiliser such as a Thatcham recognised padlock and chain, disc-lock or ground anchor
• Have a Thatcham recognised identification system fitted to the motorcycle

Additional advice for commercial vehicle users -

• Make sure the vehicle is locked, even during each drop on a multi-drop journey
• Have a Thatcham recognised identification system, fleet management or tracking system fitted to the vehicle

Additional advice for users and owners of Plant and Heavy Machinery -