Ex Officer Reveals 6 Simple Tips to Protect Your Car From Theft

Want to keep your car safe from theft? A former police officer shared some helpful tips. He teamed up with Nextbase, a dash cam company. They want to help drivers avoid car theft. Over 100,000 cars get stolen yearly.

In 2023, about 130,270 cars were stolen in England and Wales alone. Data indicates UK car theft charges fell in 2022-2023. July 2022 had a 2.8% charge rate; June 2023 saw only a 1.43% charge rate.

Ben Pearson is a Nextbase Police Advisor. He was once a police interceptor. He says make your car the hardest to steal on your street because thieves often pick the easiest target. Making your car less appealing helps.

First, always lock your car and never leave it running unattended. People often do this in winter to defrost. Leaving your car on with AC running is also risky, giving criminals an easy chance to steal.

Next, use a wheel lock. This tool makes your car look harder to steal, and you can buy one for about £50. It adds extra protection against keyless theft too, and can provide time to hear alarms. They might deter a thief.

Smart dash cams can also help. Some models alert you if someone approaches your car, even when you are not around. Using your phone, you can scare off a thief remotely. Dash cams add another protection layer.

If possible, use off-street or garage parking. Garages often fill with junk, so clear it out and utilize the available space. Park inside to keep your car safer.

Avoid posting your car on social media. Thieves can trace vehicles this way, and people tag locations in photos too. Don’t make targeting your car easier; keep your car off social media.

Finally, show you’ve taken precautions and let thieves know you are prepared. Use window stickers or wheel locks visibly because anything that gives them pause is good. Make it obvious to deter thieves.