Tips to reduce the risk of vehicle crime

VEHICLE crime is always a factor to take into everyday life, especially during the festive season, as criminals come up with new methods of stealing and breaking into cars, and hijacking motorists.

How can you, a vehicle owner, minimise your chances of falling victim to auto theft in its various forms?

Autodealer has the following advice and tips:

Never leave your car running while unattended Even when opening or closing a gate, loading or off-loading people or goods in town. Get into the habit of always turning the engine off and removing the keys from the ignition.

Always lock your car doors If your car doors don’t automatically lock after starting to move, make a point of manually locking them even before pull-away. This should be as routine as clipping in your seatbelt. Before leaving a parked car, whether it’s at the mall, at home in the yard or even in the garage overnight, lock the doors and check they are locked before walking away.

Store keys out of sight Your spare key should preferably be kept in a safe, and the set in use should either be in your pocket or bag or, when at home, placed where it cannot be seen by passers-by. At night especially, keys should be kept well away from windows.

Use the inbuilt steering lock Every car’s steering locks when the key is not in the ignition and turned slightly. Lock the steering whenever the car is unattended, even overnight in the garage. It’s one more obstacle thieves have to overcome if they want your wheels.

Install a cut switch If your car is out of the manufacturer’s warranty, have a secret switch installed to cut power to the engine. This is an excellent precautionary measure, but altering the electrics will void the warranty. On older, out-of-warranty vehicles, have the switch fitted by a qualified auto electrician.

Invest in a tracking device This is an absolute must if you drive a bakkie or passenger car popular with thieves. To take the sting out of the initial cost of the device and the monthly subscription, ask your insurance company to lower your premium. After installing the device, save the tracking company’s number on your phone for immediate access.

Car wash care Some people drop their vehicles off at a car wash or a valet service, only to fetch them later when the job is done. Only use a reputable car wash service where the safety of a customer’s car is a priority. Even so, remove all valuables, and find out from your insurance whether you will be compensated if your car goes missing while not under your control.

Keep documents safe Never drive around with the car’s original logbook onboard. That belongs in a safe place. Keep the vehicle’s registration number and VIN stored in your phone, or written down on a card in your wallet. This is in case your car gets stolen and you need those details in a hurry.

Lock those mags Many vehicle owners have been stranded when one, or all four wheels, have been taken. In most cases, wheels are stolen for the scrap value of aluminium mags, but to replace them you pay a lot. To stop thieves from taking your mags and tyres, buy a set of ‘lock nuts’ and put one on every wheel. Bakkie and SUV owners must ‘lock’ the spare wheel as well.

Common sense We live in a country where crime is rife, but applying some everyday common sense will greatly reduce the risk of becoming another statistic. – Avoid isolated areas and parts of town with a high crime rate. – Don’t leave valuables lying on the seats in open view. – Make double sure your car is locked every time you leave it unattended. These are repetitive tips, but will save you many hours of misery… and a lot of money!  

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