10 tips from West Midlands Police to prevent your car being stolen

Police arrested more than 100 car thief suspects in October
With frosty mornings back you are advised to make more precautions to keep your car safe With frosty mornings back you are advised to make more precautions to keep your car safe
With frosty mornings back you are advised to make more precautions to keep your car safe

West Midlands Police arrested more than 100 people for car related crime last month.

And with frosty mornings back and dark nights drawing in, officers are warning motorists that they could be more vulnerable in the run up to Christmas.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The force warns: “Car criminals and persistent offenders will still try to take advantage of unsuspecting people, and most car theft happens near people’s homes - but there are some simple security measures you can follow to help.”

During the pandemic there was a decrease in car crime. The region saw a 4% decrease in vehicle crime from July 2020 to June 2021, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.

But with no lockdowns planned the figures could increase this year.

What West Midlands Police is doing to keep your car safe

  • Last month officers arrested 119 people for car related crime - 92 arrests were for theft of vehicle and 27 people were arrested for stealing from a vehicle.
  • The force have closed down more than 100 chop shops – where stolen cars are broken down for parts – in the past 18 months and continue to run operations targeting the organised gangs behind these illegal businesses.
  • Officers work with car manufactures and the vehicle security industry to keep finding the best ways to protect vehicles.
  • Proactively patrolling the streets, increasing visibility in areas where thieves often operate, and heighten public awareness on vehicle safety.

Here are 10 tips from West Midlands Police to help keep your car safe

  1. Check that you’ve locked your car – even if you’ve just gone to pay for your petrol.
  2. Make sure all windows are closed before leaving your vehicle.
  3. Use a Sold Secure approved steering wheel lock on your car. You can search for suppliers on Sold Secure or Secured by Design.
  4. Keep valuables out of sight when leaving your vehicle, including on roof-racks, tailgate racks, roof boxes or items on display inside such as sat navs.
  5. Register all valuables in the car, such as radios and sat nav systems on Secure Asset Register.
  6. Store car ownership information at home, not in your car.
  7. Speak to the main dealer, even if your car is older, as they can tell you how best to protect your vehicle especially from keyless theft.
  8. 85% of thefts happen during the night - avoid parking in dark and secluded areas if possible. That can be difficult, but try to park in well-lit areas and busier streets if you can.
  9. Keys should be kept out of view and away from front doors, and never taken to bed with you. Faraday pouches can add an extra layer of security for people with keyless cars. Also keep your spare keys safe, and store those in a protective Faraday pouch or box.
  10. Secure number plates with anti-theft screws available from car accessory stores.

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.