Protect car from theft: The best tips.

Car theft is a persistent problem in Australia. Although not quite as many vehicles are stolen nowadays as there were in the 1990s after the opening of the eastern borders, the Australian Insurance Association estimates that the number of thefts of insured cars has remained very constant for 10 years. Australian Insurance Association estimates that the number of thefts of passenger cars with comprehensive insurance has remained very constant for the past 10 years at around 18,000 per year. With a damage expenditure of more than 300 million euro in the last year one can speak here certainly not of a petty crime.

Car theft can affect any vehicle owner. It therefore makes sense to find out about ways to protect your own car from theft. The following measures contribute to increased security against car theft:

Behavior when leaving the vehicle

The risk of car theft can be reduced by behaving correctly when leaving the vehicle. First of all, the car should be parked in a secured or guarded area. This means, for example, parking in a lockable garage at home and preferring guarded parking lots with security cameras or security personnel when on the road. If one’s car is simply parked on the street or in unattended, possibly even dark and unfrequented places, this is an invitation to opportunistic thieves.

When leaving the vehicle, you should also always check whether the car is actually properly locked. Especially when using a remote control for the central locking system, the signals can be interfered with by radio blockers and the car is unintentionally left unlocked. The car key should then be safely stowed away and not left unattended anywhere. So, for example, please do not hang your jacket with the car key in your pocket on the coat rack in the restaurant. Furthermore, a spare key should never be left behind in the car. Car thieves now know every secret hiding place.

Mechanical immobilizers

A good way to provide additional protection against car thieves is to use mechanical immobilizers such as steering wheel claws or pedal locks. These are robust metal constructions that are installed inside the vehicle. Classic steering wheel claws or steering wheel locks are attached directly to the steering wheel and prevent rotation and thus control of the vehicle by unauthorized persons. Pedal locks are often combined with steering wheel claws and additionally block the pedals.

Mechanical immobilizers are an excellent complement to the electronic immobilizers integrated in modern vehicles. They are completely independent of the vehicle’s electronics and can only be opened with the right key or brute force. Many car thieves shy away from the extra effort of first having to crack a mechanical immobilizer before starting the vehicle. Good steering wheel locks are usually very robust and can only be cracked with special tools and a lot of noise. Therefore, the use of mechanical immobilizers already provides an effective visual deterrent, especially against opportunistic thieves.

Electronic anti-theft devices

In addition to mechanical immobilizers such as steering wheel locks and pedal locks, vehicles can also be equipped with various electronic anti-theft devices. The standard equipment of most modern cars now includes an electronic immobilizer in addition to the alarm system. However, this is susceptible to manipulation. Car thieves can gain access to the vehicle diagnostic systems via the ODB interface and thus deactivate the immobilizer. A special ODB saver can be used to protect this interface in your own car against access by unauthorized persons.

Another option for electronic anti-theft protection is a so-called battery monitor. This is a special device that is connected between the car battery and the battery cable. The entire power supply in the car can then be interrupted by remote control. Since the device is attached directly to the battery by a safety screw, it cannot be easily removed without damaging the battery.

Last but not least, your own vehicle can also be equipped with a GPS tracking device. This does not directly help to prevent theft, but at least the exact position of the stolen vehicle can be found out afterwards.

Conclusion: Protect car from theft

Nowadays, there is a wide range of options to protect your own vehicle from theft. Due to the still regularly occurring car theft crimes, it is definitely worthwhile to take one or another measure to protect your own vehicle.

Source - https://www.waautoparts.com.au/protect-car-from-theft-the-best-tips/