Prevent theft from your vehicle
Steps to prevent valuables or components being stolen from your motor vehicle.
Thieves will not only steal valuables that have been left on display in your vehicle, they also target valuable components such as catalytic converters and electric vehicle charging cables.
Prevent thefts of valuables
To reduce the opportunity for valuable items being stolen from your vehicle, make sure you:
- take any valuables, including your phone, money, sunglasses, electrical equipment or medication, with you or hide them from view
- close any windows or sunroofs to prevent thieves ‘fishing’ for items by hand or using a bent coat hanger, which could also unlock a door for them to get in
- lock your vehicle, even if you will only be away from it for a few moments
- secure anything left on roof or tailgate racks, or roof boxes
- double-check electronic or keyless locking
- park responsibly in well-lit, and ideally, secure locations
- install CCTV or motion-activated doorbells
Prevent component theft
Catalytic converters
Your catalytic converter is an important part of your exhaust system. It contains materials such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, which are valuable commodities.
Hybrid vehicles are targeted because they use their internal combustion engine less frequently than petrol or diesel vehicles, meaning they are in better condition.
To reduce opportunities for thieves to target your catalytic converter, you could:
- park where it is difficult for thieves to get under your vehicle
- install CCTV, dashcams, or motion-sensing video doorbells to monitor your parking space
- get your garage to add a serial number to your catalytic converter
- ask your garage to weld the catalytic converter’s bolts shut
- fit a tilt sensor alarm that will alert you if a thief attempts to jack up your vehicle to steal the converter
Having a ‘catloc’ installed on your vehicle can make it tougher for thieves to steal your catalytic converter. These are secured to your vehicle’s chassis to reinforce the manufacturer’s fixing points.
Visit Secured by Design for a list of approved catalytic converter marking system and catloc suppliers.
Electronic vehicle cables
Electronic vehicle (EV) drivers need to be aware that thieves are increasingly targeting charging cables due to their high copper content.
Charging cables are often left exposed in residential areas, and it can cost owners up to £200 to replace a stolen cable.
If you have an EV charging point installed outside your home, you could:
- install CCTV, dashcams, or motion-sensing video doorbells to monitor charging areas
- avoid leaving cables unattended, especially overnight
- use tethered chargers with permanently attached cables
- apply forensic marking, such as from SelectaDNA, to make cables traceable
Number plates
An increasing amount of drivers are becoming victims of number plate fraud, which can involve plates being copied or stolen.
The stolen plates are then used to hide a stolen vehicle’s identity or dodge speeding fines.
Make it harder for thieves to get your number plate by using anti-theft number plate bolts or one-way clutch head security screws to attach your vehicle’s number plates.
Wheels
Wheels are usually stolen either for their scrap value or as parts.
To put your mind at ease and reduce the risk of your vehicle’s wheels being stolen, consider using anti-tamper, locking wheel nuts.