Wickham Security

Security steps to stop car thieves in their tracks

An escalation in the theft of cars from the driveways of homes in Wickham and Bromley has left homeowners scrambling for security deterrents.

Gangs, targeting cars under cover of darkness have struck more than half a dozen times in the last two weeks taking high profile vehicles and stripping valuable car parts from others.
Among the recent incidents was the theft of a Toyota Cruiser taken from a driveway in Biggin Hill and a Volvo XC90 which was targeted on Pickhurst Rise.

Other homeowners in Orpington and West Wickham have discovered their cars haven’t been taken but many valuable parts have been stripped such as BMW steering wheel components or airbags.

Today, Wickham Security, who look after almost 3.000 homes in the area, offered a few helpful security tips to help owners stop thieves in their tracks.

Chairman of Wickham Security Michael Vry said: “Car theft is unfortunately on the rise across the country, but the Wickham area is becoming a real hot spot.

“You can never make your car completely impenetrable but there are some steps you can take to protect your vehicle, your home and your family and we are always available to give advice where we can.”

10 top Security tips for preventing your car from theft

1. CCTV – not only protects your home but your car too – cameras can alert you that someone is on your drive and catch anyone tampering with your car in high visibility images which can help the police in their investigation later.

2. Having a house alarm with a built-in panic alarm can be invaluable if you catch intruders on your driveway as it gives you the chance to summon help quickly via a simple button alerting the monitoring station and your key holders.

3. Although some wireless alarms can be deactivated using a simple wifi blocking device which criminals can buy online – ours have high frequency air waves which are harder to pe*****te.

4. The cameras such as Risco which are among those supplied by us have RF jamming devices which alert a homeowner as soon as someone tries to block the cameras.

5. Steering wheel locks – not only are they a visual deterrent but they take time to remove making it more likely that a thief will be caught in the act.

6. Keep valuables out of sight – a wallet or laptop case even a baby’s pram left in the car can be a target. Keep valuables safe and avoid costly window repairs or forced locks.

7. GET an anti RFID wallet. Keeping your keys and fob in one of these secure pouches stops car thieves from being able to unlock your car using technology without your knowledge.

8. Window etching can cost as little as £20 and is available at many motoring outlets such as Halfords meaning thieves find it hard to eradicate your VIN – vehicle identification number.

9. If your home is protected by a Pyronix alarm system ask our team about the new car defenders- a simple yellow tag which fits on your steering wheel when you park at home and triggers the house alarm if tampered with.

10. Contact Wickham Security now to discuss how we can help make your home safer. Call our security experts today on 0208 777 8299.

Article by Lisa Smith