Car theft: the best ways to protect your vehicle 27 April 2012 Jack Taylor Right http://www.cetamail.co.uk/files/cartheftvandalism_lrg.jpg You might be surprised to learn that when automobiles first started appearing on the streets of Britain's capital, an order was passed that actually made it illegal to lock a vehicle when parked in a public space. Parking restrictions were non-existent in 1928, so being able to move a car if it was in the way was deemed necessary by the Minister of Transport. Not surprisingly, thieves took full advantage of this and the order was reversed just four years later in 1932. Car security has come a long way since then, but even with today's plethora of anti-theft devices cars are still stolen or vandalised every day. No matter what car manufacturers and security firms come up, thieves come up with ways to overcome them. There is no denying that modern cars are much more difficult to break into and steal than models from 20 years ago, but cars are always going to be targeted by thieves. New tactics Thanks to alarms and immobilisers, instead of stealing a car while it is parked up, thieves are looking for other alternatives, like stealing it while you're in it, or pinching your keys and driving off without even needing to break into the vehicle. Car-jacking is such a big problem in South Africa that a device called the 'Blaster' was developed. Effectively a flamethrower mounted to the underside of a car, the occupant can scorch would-be car-jackers with burning liquefied petroleum gas. You may, or may not, be happy to know that UK laws prohibit the use of the 'Blaster.' Key theft If a thief can steal your keys then they can easily steal your car, so keep them close. Don't leave them in the ignition while filling up at the petrol station, and be aware of your surroundings when you park up. If you notice anything suspicious then just drive off, don't risk being robbed. Car keys are often taken during a burglary and are sometimes the sole purpose of a home break-in. Keep your keys out of sight and if you have a garage, use it so that your car isn't on display outside your home. Car-jacking Car-jacking has become quite a high-profile crime in recent years because of the excessive attention the media has given it. This method of stealing a car is by far the scariest, but it is by no means as prevalent as the media makes out. There are a few ways you can avoid being caught out by car-jackers, like using the middle lane at junctions if there is one, and keeping doors locked and windows up while driving in built-up areas. Also watch out for ploys to get you to stop or exit your car, like someone beckoning from the side of the road. Some criminals wait by the side of the road and pretend to of have broken down, or bump into your car so that you stop and get out. Be vigilant, and if in doubt don't get out. Security devices worth using Years of development has seen hundreds of car security devices come and go, so now there is a great selection of proven anti-theft devices to choose from. Always make sure that the anti-theft device you use is approved by Thatcham, also known as the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre. The Centre has been testing aftermarket vehicle security devices since 1992, and publishes a list of approved anti-theft systems on their website ( http://www.thatcham.org ). Having a Thatcham approved security device can lower your insurance premium too. Steering locks Steering locks have been around for some time now, but they still hold their own as a great way to put off thieves stealing your car. They are highly visible so act as a visual deterrent as well as a physical one, and are well worth the investment. The main disadvantage of steering locks is that experienced car thieves have a variety of methods to remove them, so make that as hard as possible for them by using a proven model. Car alarms and immobilisers. Car alarms and immobilisers have been standard for many years now. If your car is older, just a false alarm with a flashing led on the dashboard can put off thieves. If the screeching alarm doesn't deter the thief, an immobiliser should stop them from being able to drive away. Alarms are a great security measure, but can be disabled if the thief can stand the noise. While an immobiliser makes it almost impossible for a thief to drive the car away, the task of installing them on a car is not exactly straight forward, and it can be expensive. Kill switches A kill switch is a handy device that will cut out your vehicles electrical system in a variety of different ways. Some require a specific series of actions, like pushing on the accelerator prior to buckling your seat belt before you can start the car, and others can be activated via a wireless signal. Unfortunately some kill switches can invalidate your car's warranty, and you could find yourself unable to start your car if you don't perform the code correctly. With all these types of devices, make sure you display the stickers saying you are protected on your car windows to inform thieves when they start snooping around. Chances are they will leave it and move on to an easier target. GPS vehicle tracker The crème de la crème of anti-theft devices for cars has to be the GPS vehicle locater. With one of these devices installed on your vehicle, you can see exactly where it is if it goes missing. Once you've reported it stolen, the Police should be able to find your car straight away, and even catch the thieves that stole it in the first place. The only disadvantage is that the device may not deter the thief in the first place, so is more of a tool to recover your car than an actual deterrent to theft. If you become a victim of a car-jacking, a GPS tracker is the perfect way to get your car back and put the criminal behind bars. It is by far the most expensive vehicle security device and the price may put you off. But if you do, make sure you know how to activate and use it! Maximise your protection There is no reason why you should choose just one device to protect your car and using more than one will make your vehicle less attractive to thieves. That being said, how much you spend on protecting your car should be weighed against how much your car is actually worth. You could say that Bentley's deserve GPS trackers, and Fiesta's can make do with a steering lock. The main thing to remember is that with a little thought and preparation, you can make your car window one that a thief just looks through, before moving onto the next.