Most drivers would consider having their vehicle stolen unlucky – but is it really? There is a lot of data out there that shows that certain cars are more appealing to criminals than others.
The vehicle you drive could significantly increase or decrease the chances of it being stolen.
Predictably, the most stolen vehicles are the premium ones – the prestige brands.
I guess this is because they have a high value and because they are the easiest to dispose of on the black market.
Rankings are really interesting, and it’s interesting to see where your car fits, but in mulling them over, the question that I ended up asking was, so what?
I for one am not going to change the vehicles that I select because they are ‘nickable’. The most desirable vehicles to thieves are also the most desirable to law-abiding drivers and it would be wrong to let these statistics influence the choices that you make.
Because of the price tag that they come with, these vehicles are also packed with anti-theft technologies that make them harder to steal – alarms, immobilisers and in some cases trackers, which all make a difference.
However, there are still things that you can do to change the odds.
A quick search online brought me to the Surrey Police website where they provide some useful advice. All common sense tips, but definitely worth a look.
. Always lock your vehicle and close the windows and sunroof.
. Remove all personal possessions – for example, laptops, mobile phones, loose change and clothing.
. Look after your car keys and keep them out of sight and secure, even when you are at home.
. Secure number plates with tamper-proof or clutch head screws.
. If possible, park your car in a garage and lock both the car and the garage.
. When away from home, try to park in a well lit, open location, or a police-approved ‘ParkMark’ car park
. Fit a tracking device to your vehicle (and ensure you know how to activate it)
. Have the vehicles’ registration number or vehicle identification number (VIN) etched on each window
