Car, Van and Motorcycle Security

Your vehicle may feel like a safe place – perhaps even your own little bubble full of comforts and mod cons – but opportunistic criminals won’t see it that way.

Thankfully, protecting your vehicle from would-be thieves is easy.  Follow these basic steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Car Security

• Don’t make it easy for thieves. Believe it or not, most cars are stolen because they’re unlocked.
• Never leave the keys in the ignition: a prime example is when paying for petrol or warming your car on an icy morning.
• Hide car documents and keys at home.
• Think about where you’re parking. Use a well-lit, secure car park rather than a dark alley. Also, think about your personal safety when returning to your car.
• Don’t leave anything– CDs, cheque books, even an old coat – on show inside as they may be tempting for thieves.
• With satnavs in particular, make sure you not only remove the device from view but also its cradle – and don’t forget to wipe away any telltale sucker marks on the windscreen, too.
• Consider investing and using an alarm as a deterrent.
• The most secure location to park your car is in your locked and alarmed garage, while the next best thing is to park as close to your home as possible – whether that be on a drive or on the street directly outside your property.
• A well-lit drive where another vehicle is present also makes a great deterrent to put off any would-be thieves.
• Avoid locations where your vehicle will be hidden from general view, like behind tall bushes or advertising boards.
• Busy, overlooked or CCTV-monitored parking areas are far safer than deserted side streets or back alleys. When leaving your vehicle parked after dark, consider the lighting and how remote the location may become in the early evening and overnight.
• Some of the safest public car parks are those displaying the Park Mark Safer Parking Tick. To find an approved car park in your area, visit parkmark.co.uk.

Van Security

The potential for vans to contain tools and petty cash can sometimes make them appealing to criminals – but there are many ways you can protect your vehicle and make it less desirable to thieves.

• By keeping doors locked, windows closed and alarms active at all times, it will be harder for them to break in and steal either the vehicle itself or anything inside.
• Never leave valuables or things that could resemble them on display, and don’t carry satnavs, trade spares or other unnecessary items if they aren’t being used.
• Tools and stock items should always be removed from the van overnight – displaying signage explaining this to be the case is also very helpful.
• Satnavs should be removed slightly prior to your destination, along with their cradle and any lasting sucker marks on the window, while leaving roof bars and external load boxes or tubes empty and unlocked can help avoid any costly inquisitive forced entries.
• If possible, park your van so the rear and side doors are tight to walls, garage doors or other vehicles to hinder direct access and any physical attacks

MOTORCYCLE SECURITY

Valuable bikes are at risk – fork locks are being broken and some parked bikes are simply lifted and carried off.

Follow the below advice to help keep your bike safe!

1. Always lock your bike with the fork & ignition locks, remembering to remove the keys.  A secondary, quality disc or chain lock is essential when attempting to protect your bike.
2. Locking your bike to a security rail, ground anchor or anything solid will make it hard to lift and steal.  When riding with friends, lock bikes together if there are no fixed anchor points available.
3. Fit a quality, insurance approved motorbike alarm and tracking system.  Make sure you set it every time you leave your bike unattended.
4. Invest in an insurance approved identification and marking system, e.g. micro dot, DNA marking or acide etching.  Mark major body panels and display any security warning stickers.
5. Chain and anchor the bike even when storing it in a garage or shed at home
6. Try to park out the general view of passers-by to minimise the chance of your bike being seen by an opportunistic criminal.
7. If the bike is on open view in the street or in your garden, cover it with a bike cover. This stops thieves from surveying what type of security devices you are using and planning how to overcome them.

MOTORCYCLE PARKING

When parking a motorbike, remember to think about a few added considerations.

1. Always park and lock your bike in busy locations whenever possible.  Avoid remote or deserted areas.
2. If you have to leave your bike in a public area during the hours of darkness choose an area illuminated by street lighting if available.
3. Having your bike covered hides its value from any potential thief, as well as protecting it from the weather.
4. Cover your bike to hide your security locks and chains.  Make it harder for the thief who may just be planning on how to steal it.

See anyone acting suspicious near to a motorbike? …..  then call 101 or 999 if you think any crime is in progress.

Some of the safest car parks are those which have been awarded the ‘Park Mark Safer Parking’ tick

To find a Park Mark site near you visit www.parkmark.co.uk

Motorcycle security leaflet