Every year in South Australia, about 3,500 vehicles are stolen and about 8,000 are broken into. A reliable vehicle is essential to most households. So, when your vehicle is stolen, broken into or vandalised, it can be both distressing and a real inconvenience. The good news is there are some simple things you can do to reduce the likelihood of vehicle-related crime.
Items commonly stolen from vehicles include money, handbags and wallets, personal items such as jewellery, clothing and keys, and digital devices such as phones, smartwatches and laptops.
But any visible item in your car can tempt a thief to break in.
So, remove items from your vehicle, if you can.
If you can’t take the items with you, put them out of sight. Make sure you do this before you get to your destination to avoid being seen hiding them. The boot is usually the safest place to store items. Thieves will usually check glove boxes and under seats.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more vehicles are stolen from homes than public places, accounting for six out of 10 thefts. So, no one can afford to be complacent when parking at home or in a public place.
If you have a garage, use it! Garage roller doors that lock are recommended. If you don’t have a garage, park off the road if you can. If you have gates, close and lock them to make it harder for thieves to get to your vehicle.
If you need to park on the street, try to park close to home in a well-lit area. A thief might move on if they think they might be spotted.
When you are out and about, park in a secure car park rather than on the street. If you receive a ticket on entry, take it with you.
If you need to park on the street, find a busy, well-lit area.
Remove or secure valuables attached to your vehicle
Ideally, you shouldn’t leave roof racks or roof boxes on your vehicle, but that’s not always practical. So, make sure they are well secured with quality padlocks or cable locks, or buy products that are self-locking.
Thieves steal vehicle number plates and attach them to different vehicles. Then they commit crimes and rack up vehicle-related fines without being identified through their own number plates. If you don’t report the licence plates as stolen as soon as possible, you can end up with the crook’s fines. See Report your stolen vehicle ASAP for more information.
Secure your number plates with tamper-resistant screws to make them harder to steal. If you need help, your mechanic or a tyre shop may install them for a small fee or as part of a service.
It takes only moments to nick a vehicle. So, lock the doors even if you are only getting out for a short time. Get into the habit of locking your doors every time you get out of your vehicle, even when you are parked at home in your garage.
Never get out of your car and leave it running – even if it’s just to nip back into the house for something you have forgotten. Did you know that a keyless car left running can be driven off without the remote?
It’s so tempting to leave your vehicle windows open a crack on a hot day, but it’s just as tempting for a crook. Always close your windows and sunroof when you leave your vehicle.
Most cars taken from homes are stolen with their own keys. If a thief can get to the keys or keyless remote, they can take your car – it’s as simple as that. Don’t leave keys or remotes in your car, even for a minute.
Keep them out of sight – not left on tables or displayed on key hooks. Don’t leave them near doors or windows where they can be easily spotted. If you go out without your car, take your keys with you or hide them somewhere in the house that is difficult to find.
Attach a tracking device to your keys or mark them with your phone number in case you lose them. Do not include your name, address or vehicle registration number because thieves can use these details to target your home or vehicle.
Attention all tradies! If you don’t want to lug a heavy toolbox around on your lunch break, make sure it is secured to your truck bed or inside your van. A good way to do this is by bolting it to a mounting frame attached to your vehicle. For even more security, use tamper-proof bolts or a padlock.
If you are leaving your tools in your vehicle, engrave them or mark them with an ultraviolet (UV) pen with your driver’s licence number. Put a letter ‘S’ for ‘South Australia’ before the number (e.g. S123456). There are also adhesive microdots available that have an individualised tiny, almost invisible code printed on them. For added security, photograph your tools and their serial numbers. This can assist with recovery and insurance claims.
You can never have too much vehicle security. If you want to make your vehicle even more secure, you can install an after-market engine immobiliser. A steering wheel lock is a great visual deterrent. A high-quality steering wheel lock will prevent the steering wheel from turning so it is difficult to drive the car even if the engine is on. Consider putting a GPS tracking device in your vehicle so it can be located if stolen. Do not attempt to retrieve the vehicle yourself if you track its location. See Report your stolen vehicle ASAP for more information.
If your vehicle is stolen, report it as soon as possible by phoning 131 444. The sooner police are notified of the theft, the higher the chance they can track the vehicle before it's moved, sold, or even dismantled for parts. Visit the South Australia Police website for more information on making a police report. Early reporting is also important if you need to make an insurance claim.
Learn where your vehicle might be at risk of theft, criminal damage or used to commit crimes with Neighbourhood Watch Victoria’s How safe is my vehicle? quiz.