How to protect your car or motorbike from thieves

Vehicle crime is a constant blight on our roads.

While thefts of vehicles have fallen sharply since the early 1990s, thousands of car, van and motorbike owners still lose their vehicles to thieves every year.

The latest official data shows that in 2019-20 there were a reported 80,000 vehicle thefts in England and Wales alone, not accounting for incidents in Scotland and Northern Ireland or taking into account thefts from vehicles and failed attempts.

Data from the Office of National Statistics also shows that just 40 per cent of stolen vehicles are ever recovered, leaving owners upset, inconvenienced and often out of pocket.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered advice from Keith Hawes, director of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts and Mark Copper, head of product at insurance specialist Carole Nash on how to keep your precious motor safe, whether it’s on two wheels or four.

Think about where you park it

Car or bike, one of the best ways to protect your vehicle from thieves is to keep it in a locked garage.

Keith says: “Where your vehicle is parked has a major impact on its chances of being stolen. Thefts from garages only make up seven per cent of all incidents, similarly thefts from public and private car parks only make up 10 per cent, compared to 43 per cent of the vehicles being stolen when parked on a street.”

Even if you have access to a garage, Mark suggests beefing up security further. “Adding a garage alarm and low-level dusk to dawn lighting can also enhance security," he says.

If you don’t have access to a garage try to leave your vehicle in well-lit areas where there will be increased footfall, giving thieves less of a chance to go unnoticed.

Physical deterrents

Particularly for motorbikes, physical security is key but old-fashioned methods can also protect modern cars.

If you own a bike you should invest in a lock, chain and cover. Mark explains: “It’s worth investing in both a disc lock and a grip lock - a disc lock can help to secure the front brake disc and a grip lock can help to keep the brake and throttle controls secure. A D-lock on the front wheel will also stop thieves from wheeling the bike away.”

Placing a chain lock through the back wheel will also deter thieves. Ideally you should secure your bike to an immovable object but threading a chain through the frame and back wheel is the next best option.

Mark adds: “Although all motorbikes are at risk of theft, certain models are likely to be at even greater risk due to their value. By covering your motorcycle, you’ll deter a thief’s wandering eye, particularly in public spaces.

For car owners, especially those worried about keyless thefts, a good old steering lock can act as a visual deterrent and a solid, hard-to-remove obstacle to thieves, especially opportunistic ones. And Keith recommends window etching. It's no longer common practice but it can make it easier to identify your car if it is stolen and make it harder for crooks to sell on.

Alarms and trackers

Most modern cars come with a factory fitted alarm, however, many bikes don’t so it’s worth installing one with immobilisation, anti-grab and movement sensors if it isn’t a feature.