Owners of keyless vehicles were twice as likely to make a theft claim as those with non-keyless cars!
Keyless entry was also found, in a separate study, to be the most common way for thieves to break into vehicles in England and Wales, accounting for more than a third (36%) of break ins.
Night and day
While vehicles are more likely to be taken at night, the number of incidents where vehicles were actually taken in the dark – not just broken into – is falling, suggesting thieves are becoming more daring during the day. 65% of vehicles were stolen during darkness, compared to 77% in the previous year, while the vast majority (73%) of vehicles were taken from people’s homes.
Here’s some more tips on avoiding vehicle theft:
Keep your keys in a signal blocking pouch, container or box. These devices help prevent signals from your keys being intercepted and manipulated by thieves.
Fit a vehicle tracking system. Think about fitting your own vehicle tracking device, even if you have one pre-installed.
Don’t leave anything in your vehicle. Anything worth stealing makes your vehicle more attractive to thieves. If you must store something in your vehicle for a short period, make sure it’s out of sight.
Consider using immobilisers. Immobilisers prevent the engine from starting without a correct key or fob. All new cars sold in England and Wales since October 1998 will have immobilisers installed already but if you have an older car, it may be worth considering one.
Never leave the keys in the ignition. Thieves work fast – your vehicle could be gone in 60 seconds. Also think about where you keep your car keys – don’t store them in the garage or near your front or back door.
Use a steering wheel lock. These bright yellow locks can be very effective at encouraging thieves to move on to an easier target. You can also fit security devices to your clutch and gear stick to make things even more difficult for criminals.
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