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Due to a recent theft of a vehicle from the Landore area please see below some advice to make it harder for car thieves.
Securing your vehicle requires a combination of physical locking, electronic key protection, and keeping the cabin completely empty. Opportunistic thieves can break into a vehicle or drive it away in a matter of seconds, but taking layered precautions will drastically reduce your risk of being targeted.
Here is the essential breakdown of vehicle and valuable protection. 🔒 Prevent Vehicle Theft • Lock every door: Lock the car even when pumping fuel or stepping away for a moment. • Watch for flashes: Wait to see the hazard lights flash to confirm the signal went through. • Block signal jammers: Check the door handles physically to ensure a jammer did not interrupt your key fob. • Protect smart keys: Store wireless key fobs in a signal-blocking Faraday pouch at home. • Keep keys hidden: Avoid leaving car keys near windows, front doors, or visible countertops. • Use physical locks: Fit a high-visibility steering wheel lock or pedal box clamp. • Secure the OBD port: Install a physical lock over your On-Board Diagnostics port to prevent key cloning. • Never leave it running: Avoid leaving the engine running while de-icing windows or popping into a shop. 👁️ Protect Your Valuables • Leave it empty: Take phones, wallets, cash, purses, and shopping bags with you. • Wipe the glass: Clean off suction cup marks left on the windshield by phone mounts or GPS units. • Hide all cables: Tuck away charging cords that hint at electronics hidden inside the car. • Secure external storage: Use padlocks or cable locks on roof boxes, racks, and tool chests. • Take your papers: Keep the vehicle logbook and ownership documents at home, not in the glovebox. • Seal the gaps: Roll windows and sunroofs completely up to stop "fishing" tools. 💡 Parking & Environment • Seek bright spaces: Park in well-lit, busy areas covered by CCTV whenever possible. • Check for credentials: Look for managed car parks that have earned official security marks, like the PARK MARK scheme. • Turn the wheels: Angle your wheels toward the curb when parking to make towing much harder. |