Vehicle crime prevention advice following thefts of pick-ups

Motorists in south Worcestershire are being advised of crime prevention measures motorists to help prevent their vehicles from being stolen.

The advice follows a spate of thefts of pick-ups recently, but the tips are appropriate for all vehicle owners.

Detective Constable Lee Beckett from our Field Intelligence team said: “We would like to urge motorists to take some extra precautions to protect their vehicles following this recent spate of pick-up thefts in south Worcestershire.

“Many of these tips are inexpensive and could make the difference between your vehicle being targeted by criminals or not.

“We would further advise people to sign up to our Neighbourhood Matters website to keep up to date with what’s going on where they live.

“You might also want to consider joining a mobile phone messaging group with your neighbours or liaising with them in person to see who has CCTV or doorbell cameras near your property so that can keep a collective watchful eye over your vehicles.”

West Mercia Police is committed to tackling vehicle crime and has the following advice to protect your cars, motorbikes and vans from being stolen: -

Put your keys in a ‘Faraday’ pouch

• Place your keyless entry fobs in a “Faraday pouch” to prevent relay theft where thieves boost the signal from the car to the key fob to gain access.

 Install a tracker to your vehicle

• Installing a GPS tracker to your car will enable its location to be tracked by police. Your insurance company can advise you on suitable products.

 Fit a foldable bollard to your driveway

• This may be a more expensive option, but it is a wise investment to prevent vehicles being driven off, particularly if you have a high value one on your driveway.

Do you have a security light/doorbell camera?

• Having a security light gives you an extra layer of protection. Security lights give the impression someone is in and removes the element of darkness.

• Installing a doorbell camera or security camera on your driveway can help to deter criminals too and many products are much less expensive than you may think.

 Lock your windows

• Make sure your windows are securely locked. As with your doors, check that your window locks are of a good standard to prevent car key burglars.

Get a steering wheel disc lock

• Steering wheel disc locks are a good deterrent to would-be thieves as they delay the amount of time it takes to steal a vehicle.

If possible, secure your vehicle out of sight in a garage

• If you have a garage, parking your vehicle out of sight in there with a securely locked door keeps it out of sight of criminals and much harder to steal.

You can find more information on our website about vehicle crime prevention including police recommended products at this link Keeping vehicles safe | Crime prevention | West Mercia Police .