PROTECTING YOUR CAR:

One of the most expensive purchases made by the average family (other than the house) is the car, yet amazingly people don't always ensure the vehicle is adequately protected against theft. Some people give an open invitation to the thief by leaving the keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked or even leaving the engine running whilst absent from the vehicle 'for a short while'. Car crime is considered a serious problem by the Police and one which we they are always trying to combat. You can make their task easier if you follow some advice :-

WHEN YOU LEAVE IT, LOCK IT
A thief is at his most vulnerable when he is trying to break into a car.
FIT A SECURITY DEVICE
One that cuts out the ignition or the fuel or better still, fit an alarm.
REMOVE OR CONCEAL VALUABLES
If you carry valuables in the car, lock them in the boot. Try and conceal that expensive stereo system.
HAVE THE WINDOWS ETCHED
The registration number etched into the windows will make it both expensive and difficult for the thief to change the identity of your car.
REMOVE DRIVING DOCUMENTS
Don't leave your registration document, driving licence or insurance documents in the vehicle. They can provide the thief with visible 'proof' of ownership.

If you were to become the victim of a car thief, how well do you know your own car?. Do you know the Vehicle Identification Number?. Can you supply details of the radio/cassette serial number or of any of the accessories you may have fitted?. Can you remember any dents or scratches, obvious signs of repair or perhaps the fitting of a new bumper or wing?. These are the clues that will help you identify your vehicle if an attempt has been made to change its appearance. Try to deliberately mark your car in some way, a card tucked into the door panel or roof lining or a deep scratch or paint mark inside the vehicle out of sight which only you know about.