Car owners guide to: Car Security
 We
all still have to deal with the threat of having our car stolen
or broken in to, but things are much better than back in the early
1990s when car crime, including car theft and so-called joyriding,
was a number one target for government action.
Initiatives were put into place to make people more aware of how
to protect their vehicle and its belongings, and government pressure
on the British insurance industry and manufacturers led to a vast
improvement in the quality and effectiveness of automotive security
measures.
After media coverage showed how easy it was to break into the average
car, in many cases using little more than a bent coat hanger to
pull up the internal door lock button, the automotive industry responded
by the setting up of not only guidelines but strict testing procedures
to assess and improve the level of vehicle security. This covered
both basic vehicle design (no more easy-lift door buttons!) and
active devices such as engine immobilisers and car alarm systems.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, car alarm systems were notorious
for not only being relatively ineffective and easily bypassed, but
also prone to false triggering. While some of the seemingly 'false
alarms' were actually the result of thieves rocking cars and banking
on the fact that owners would get fed up and switch off their alarms,
there was a genuine problem of noise pollution. This gave rise to
complaints that either prevented people from setting their alarms
or led to confused car owners not fitting one at all.
Car security has come a long way in the last ten years, especially
in terms of effectiveness and reliability. It takes many forms -
from immobilisation and car alarm systems, to tracking devices and
advanced anti-hijack measures.
Few security devices that can be fitted by motorists are effective.
Locking wheel nuts offer specific protection of high value alloy
wheels and are recommended, and a good steering wheel lock may provide
some visible deterrent but not against theft of items from the vehicle.
DIY fitted car alarms are easily defeated by all but the most rookie
thief or joyrider.
It is the professionally fitted car security systems that are by
far the most effective. Many insurance companies offer discounts
where a Thatcham-certified security system has been fitted, but
all will demand a certificate showing that the system has been fitted
by an accredited professional installer.
I have a factory-fitted approved car alarm, so I'm covered, aren't
I?
Modern cars are now being delivered with insurance-approved security
devices fitted on the production line. This is the car manufacturer's
way of showing concern for their customers and most do provide a
valuable deterrent. But manufacturing cost considerations usually
dictate that the supplied car security system will be no more than
adequate, and there is often a drawback to these factory-fitted
devices.
Since all of these are usually clones, fitted in exactly the same
way on the production line, once a career thief has worked out how
to overcome one, he has the key to overcome them all. Modern factory-fitted
security systems are effective but only up to a point.
Aftermarket devices fitted by MMSA members can offer added security
and also lifestyle comfort features. These can include GPS satellite
vehicle tracking, SMS text message tamper alerts to a mobile phone,
automatic window / roof closure, remote engine start on cold mornings,
and anti hi-jack features such as remote engine kill when the vehicle
stops at a junction or traffic lights.
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