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Keep your car safe
2 September 2010
Press release number: 1127
It’s easy to take the safety of your car for
granted and leave tempting valuables in full view or be careless
where you park. Car thieves are operating in Redbridge and it can
take as little as 10 seconds for a thief to steal something from
your car, however most vehicle crime is preventable and there are a
variety of simple steps that you can take to make sure that you
don’t become a victim of car crime.
Park it 
Park your car in a busy, well-lit area or in a
secure car park if possible.
Take it
Take all valuables out of your car before
thieves get a chance to.
Lock it
Close the windows and sunroof; lock the doors
and activate any security devices.
Extra steps you can take
Car security starts at home
Criminals break into homes to steal car keys
or can fish for them through letterboxes. Never leave your
keys where they can be seen from the front door and make sure you
have sound home security.
Invest in security devices
Steering locks, engine immobilisers and alarms
all help prevent you becoming a victim of car crime. Locking wheel
nuts are cheap, easy to fit and stop thieves from stealing your
wheels. Consider fitting you car with a vehicle tracker which
will allow the police to track its location.
Mark your equipment
Mark belongings such as Sat Navs with your
house number & postcode and have windows and windscreens etched
with your registration number or the last seven digits of your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Look out for the park mark
Some car parks have been awarded The Safer
Parking Award. This means that the car park has passed a
police assessment and put in place measures that help to deter
criminal activity. For more information visit Park Mark.
Don’t let thieves N1K UR REG
Almost half of thefts from motor vehicles in
Redbridge are thefts of 
number
plates. It may cost only £20 to replace the
plates, but there could be the huge inconvenience of false parking
tickets, speeding fines and so on.
Don’t become a victim of this crime; take just
two minutes to replace the screws on your car with FREE anti-tamper
screws available from your Safer Neighbourhood Team as part of the
N1K UR REG scheme.
Contact details can be found
at the Redbridge Police
website.
Buying a used car
Before handing over the cash to buy a
second-hand car ask to see proof of the seller's identity and
address.
Always arrange to meet the seller at their
home address, not your house or another location, there have been
reports of criminals making off with both the car and the
money. Meeting the seller at their home also allows you to
confirm their address details.
Check any security etchings to be sure they
haven’t been tampered with. Make sure the car's VIN matches that on
the registration document.
Never buy a car without the registration
document - make sure it has a DVLA watermark and has not been
altered in any way.
If in doubt ask the AA, RAC or another
reputable organisation to inspect the car before agreeing to buy.
You can check the car's history and second-hand status by calling
Equifax HPI on 01722 422 422.
Tow trucks
Some criminals are using tow trucks to steal
vehicles or parts from vehicles. If you see anything
suspicious contact 999.
Contact us
If you have any information regarding the
theft of or from vehicles contact police on 0300 123 1212 or
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
In an emergency always ring 999. To find
out more about crime prevention visit the Metropolitan Police
website.
