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Protect Your New Vehicle: Expert Advice to Prevent Car Theft
Worried about car theft, particularly with a new car? A former Police Interceptor is advising drivers to avoid a common habit to decrease the risk of their vehicle being stolen, especially after a recent purchase. This practice is directly linked to social media activity, which can inadvertently make you a target for thieves.
Why New Number Plates Increase Car Upgrade Popularity
March is typically a popular period for motorists to upgrade their vehicles, largely due to the introduction of new number plates, making it a prime time to consider vehicle security.
Social Media Car Photos: A Security Risk?
Ben Pearson, Police Advisor for Nextbase and a former Police Interceptor, urges drivers to reconsider posting photographs of their new vehicle on social media platforms. He specifically warns against displaying the number plate publicly online.
Avoid Sharing Your Number Plate Online
“While social media can be a valuable tool for reporting car theft post-incident, it’s crucial to keep your car off your public profile beforehand,” Pearson explained. “Too often, individuals share pictures of their cars, including the registration details, on platforms like Facebook or Instagram with unlocked profiles.
This practice allows vehicles to be easily tracked, and tagged locations in images further simplify locating the vehicle’s whereabouts. Don’t inadvertently assist thieves in making your car a target.”
The Temptation to Brag and Potential Consequences
Although the excitement of owning a new model vehicle is understandable, Nextbase advises drivers to be cautious when publicly sharing their enthusiasm online.
Putting your vehicle’s number plate online essentially hands over critical vehicle information to criminals. This significantly raises the potential for your vehicle to be stolen or for your number plates to be cloned and used on other vehicles, potentially to disguise a stolen car.
How to Share Photos Safely
Consequently, for drivers wanting to share photos of their cars on social media, the recommendation is to omit the number plates. This can be achieved by capturing images from angles that exclude the registration or by digitally obscuring the registration details before posting.
Traditional Car Security Measures Still Matter
Pearson also stressed the continued importance of utilizing traditional methods to ensure car safety. He points out that these solutions are often affordable and remain among the most effective available.
The Benefits of Using a Wheel Lock
He elaborated, “One of the most effective and budget-friendly ways to make your car significantly harder to steal – and crucially, appear harder to steal – is by using a wheel lock. These devices, available for around £50, provide an extra layer of protection, even against sophisticated keyless theft methods. Moreover, they offer increased time to react to an alarm or become aware of a potential thief.”
Wheel Locks: A Deterrent for Even Professional Thieves
“While a determined and professional criminal may eventually overcome a wheel lock using tools like an angle grinder, the additional time and generated noise can frequently deter them from proceeding.”
The Growing Problem of Vehicle Theft
While investing £50 in a steering wheel lock might seem insignificant compared to the average £40,000 cost of a new car in the UK, the escalating number of stolen vehicles across the UK is a serious concern that drivers must acknowledge.
Car Theft Statistics: A Cause for Concern
According to data compiled by Nextbase, drawing from figures from the Office for National Statistics, approximately 130,270 cars were stolen in England and Wales in 2023.
Charge Rates for Vehicle Theft Declining
However, the dashcam manufacturer also highlighted that this increase in reported cases occurs alongside a decline in charge rates for vehicle thefts. These rates have decreased from 2.8 percent of cases to just 1.43 percent in the 12 months leading up to June 2023.