Motor Vehicle Crime

The effects of motor vehicle crime
Apart from your home, your car is probably your most valuable possession and possibly the most vulnerable.
Thousands of cars are stolen every year, or broken into and property taken. Some vehicles are never recovered, and those which are recovered have often been damaged by thieves and left undriveable.
Motor vehicle crime is a serious problem and, apart from the general inconvenience or hire costs for a replacement vehicle until insurance payout, the loss can be a traumatic experience for the owner.
The wider implications of motor vehicle crime can affect the whole community, as criminals have been known to steal motor cars to commit serious offences and have, at times, been the cause of fatal traffic accidents.
This information has been prepared by the Police Community Relations Section to raise public awareness of motor vehicle crime, and to provide information for owners on ways to improve motor vehicle security.

Car thieves in profile
There are four types of thieves committing motor vehicle crimes:
The opportunist car thief
This criminal, frequently called a "joyrider", looks for vehicles to use as a means of temporary transport. An unprotected car, easy to break into, will be searched for and if an insecure one is not found, a forced entry will be made to a vehicle parked at a location providing cover. The stolen vehicle is normally abandoned the same day.
The professional car thief
This criminal intends either to keep the car or sell it for profit in an altered condition. The vehicle may be stripped, resprayed, modified and resold with changed identification numbers and registration plates.
The secondary thief
This criminal does not steal the car for itself but for the specific purpose of committing a further crime. The vehicle may remain hidden for a few days, possibly fitted with false plates, and used for a robbery or similar offence. The vehicle is normally abandoned immediately afterwards.
The property thief
This criminal is not interested in stealing the car, but is after any property owners may have left inside.
Apart from actual car thieves, from time to time there are people who attempt to sell vehicles which are not stolen but subject to substantial hire purchase financial agreements. These fraudsters are sometimes found at car fairs waiting to tempt the unsuspecting with a favourable price. Alternatively, they may advertise in a newspaper for sale column at a bargain rate.

Parking your car
The specific location of a parked motor vehicle can be a determining factor in whether it is targeted by thieves.
Parking in a quiet area provides more opportunities and time for thieves to commit motor vehicle crimes unobserved.
Be selective when seeking a parking spot. Try to use car park buildings that are attended and position your vehicle near entrance and exit ways where possible.
Where feasible use locations providing camera surveillance or security patrols.
If parking at night, choose a well-illuminated, busy street and park your vehicle close to a street light. Avoid a poorly-lit or isolated street without much activity.
Generally occupying a parking space in view of a steady flow of pedestrians and vehicles reduces the risk of your car being targeted by thieves.
At home the car should be locked in a garage if available, or parked in the driveway under a sensor light.
Some owners mistakenly assume that their car will be safe in the driveway and leave possessions and valuables inside. Where security has not been observed overnight thefts can result in thieves obtaining expensive sunglasses, sports equipment, clothing and electrical equipment.
Tourists and people on holiday can be a prime target for car thieves. Drivers using a rental car tend to be more relaxed and less aware than when driving their own vehicle, and may not pay attention to security when parking. Tourists tend to visit local attractions, often leaving rental cars containing their valuables parked at the site. Some car thieves monitor such places looking for signs indicating a tourist or holiday maker's vehicle. Visible signs of maps, luggage, photographic equipment, tourist brochures and books, and clothing are an invitation to thieves to break into the vehicle.

Leaving your car unattended
When parking anywhere, packages and other items that could attract a criminal should not be left on display. Concealing items under a seat is not a guarantee of safety as thieves are aware of popular hiding places.
Do not move goods from the inside of your car into the boot on arrival at your parking location. A thief may be watching and break into the vehicle once you have left.
Do not leave your keys in the ignition or conceal a spare ignition key in the vehicle - a thief may find it. Do not leave house keys in your car.
Check that all doors are locked and windows closed, including sunroof if fitted, and retract any telescopic aerial.
If an alarm is fitted, always turn it on when leaving your vehicle unattended.
Never leave in the car important documents such as credit cards, cheque book, driving licence or registration papers. A thief stealing your car could use the documents to try to sell the vehicle.
Do not leave valuable items in the car or any other property if you can avoid it. Many modern cars are fitted with a boot release lever in the passenger compartment. A thief forcing entry would have easy access to any property in the boot.
Avoid leaving any papers in the car with your name and address on. A thief stealing your vehicle, or property from it, could decide to visit your home.
Before leaving your car, conduct a visual check of the immediate vicinity for any suspicious person watching your vehicle. Any such person loitering nearby increases the risk of your car being targeted - drive to a different location for parking.

The value of deterrents in reducing risks
The risk of theft can be minimised by the application of physical security measures to your vehicle.
Etching the windows with a chassis number is likely to deter the professional car thief from targeting the vehicle.
The opportunist car thief is after a vehicle providing easy access, that can be started without difficulty, and driven away quickly. This type of thief is unlikely to be deterred by window etching, but a vehicle fitted with an anti-theft device will provide a good level of protection.
The property thief will take any attractive goods left in the vehicle, but will primarily be after the radio cassette system. Marking the sound system with the vehicle's registration number makes it difficult for the thief to sell and has a deterrent value.
A security coded radio cassette system is useless to a thief as the equipment will not operate once disconnected unless the correct code number is re-entered. Warning stickers should be displayed indicating that the equipment is security coded.
Owners should retain a record of serial numbers of radio cassette systems. Additionally, placing secret marks on a vehicle can lead to identification and recovery at a later stage should the vehicle be stolen and disguised. This is a particularly relevant to expensive, rare or exotic models favoured by the professional thief.

Enhancing security with protective devices
Motor vehicles can be protected by the anti-theft devices which slow down or foil thieves. The more time a criminal spends attempting to steal a vehicle increases the likelihood of discovery and apprehension. The following are some of the different types available that can be fitted to your vehicle:
• Ignition cut out switch or ignition shield
• Fuel cut out switch
• Battery isolator
• Steering wheel lock
• Hand brake lock
• Transmission lock
• Wheel lock
• Lockable fuel cap & wheel nuts (fuel & wheels are frequently stolen)
• Vehicle Alarm System

Car alarms are one of the more popular deterrent systems with different types available, ranging from glass break detectors to ultrasonic motion sensors. To operate a car alarm to maximum benefit, there should be instantaneous protection of all doors, bonnet, boot and interior. It is preferable to have alarms professionally installed, particularly to avoid damaging vehicles with computer controlled systems.

Purchasing a used motor vehicle
Apart from considering vehicle security when parking, it is important to observe sensible practices when evaluating a vehicle for potential purchase.
Following sensible guidelines will reduce the risk of unwittingly buying a stolen vehicle or one with previous finance outstanding.
A major part of vehicle sales is via advertisements. Treat with caution any advertisement specifying a time to telephone. It is a possibility that such a number may be a public phone box or an address of an associate of the seller.
When telephoning the seller, do not describe the vehicle but advise that you are enquiring about the car advertised for sale. The person answering will then be obliged to declare whether there is more than one vehicle on sale. In this way you will determine whether the seller is a dealer, or a private person who may be dubious.
Go to where the vehicle is on sale rather than have the person bring the vehicle to you. A dishonest seller is unlikely to allow a prospective purchaser to visit a home address.
Keep a lookout for signs of casual car dealing or rebuilding, such as other vehicles present in various states of repair, or component parts scattered around in garages and driveways.
When at the address where the vehicle is, try and establish whether the seller actually lives there. It is advisable for women visiting an address of an unknown seller to have a companion for any personal security concerns.
Make sure you know where to find the engine and chassis numbers, and check for signs of any interference. You can, if you wish, check that the numbers match those on the registration papers. Check the registration papers for any sign of alteration.
If the seller does not have the registration papers, ask why, and consider asking for personal identification.
Prudence dictates not purchasing a motor vehicle without first confirming the seller's title to ownership.
Where a person attempting to sell a vehicle appears suspicious, or the vehicle is of questionable appearance, the Police should be contacted for the registration number to be checked in case it has been reported stolen.
Caution should be exercised when purchasing a vehicle privately and payment made by cheque which has to be paid into an account.
A private sale does not contain the protection available to the consumer as when purchasing through a Licensed Motor Vehicle Dealer.

Crime prevention
If you are unfortunate enough to have your car stolen, it should be reported to the Police immediately and the registration number provided.
Car crime can be reduced by discouraging thieves if motorists take note of the measures outlined.
Vehicle owners, as members of the community, can also participate in making other motorist's vehicles more secure by being alert to any suspicious activity and reporting it promptly to the Police.

This article by NZ police department.
Compiled by WKA. Addo Enterprises