Security advice issued to van owners after number of thefts

We are reminding van owners of some simple security steps after a number of thefts in recent weeks.

There have been incidents across the county where tools have been stolen after vans were broken into.

Now officers are reminding van owners of some simple security tips to help keep their vehicles secure:

• Lock your vehicle – Making sure your vehicle is locked, even when filling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted by an opportunist thief. Even if you have locked your vehicle, check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open.
  
  If your vehicle has wing mirrors that fold in automatically when locked,  make sure you lock it properly. Criminal gangs are looking for vehicles like these where the wing mirrors are still out because it is clear to them that the vehicle has been left unlocked.
• Keep the keys safe – Make sure thieves cannot access your key or fob to clone them. Keep them safe and out of view when at home, well away from your front door. It’s not uncommon for keys to be stolen from inside your home by thieves fishing for them with a stick and hook through the letterbox.
  
  If you’re selling your vehicle and you meet up with a potential buyer, do not allow the keys out of your sight. They may be cloned by thieves and used later to steal your vehicle.

Keyless entry

Vehicles with keyless entry unlock automatically when the key comes within a short distance of the vehicle. This can be from inside a pocket or bag. Keyless car theft or ‘relay theft’ is when a device is used to fool the vehicle into thinking the key is close by. This unlocks the vehicle and starts the ignition. Thieves only need to be within a few metres of your key to capture the signal, even if it’s inside your home. This means that even if your vehicle and home are secure, thieves can still unlock, start and steal it.  

Protect your keyless entry vehicle by keeping the key and the spare well away from the vehicle when at home, putting the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag; reprogramme your keys if you buy a second-hand vehicle and turn off wireless signals on your fob when it’s not being used.

• Park responsibly – It’s always advisable to avoid parking in dark and secluded areas. It’s worth an extra five or ten-minute walk if it means your vehicle is left in a well-lit and busier street. And if possible, always try to park in illuminated and staffed car parks or those with a Park Mark safer parking award.
  
  
• Fit good security locks – Additional physical security locks can help to prevent your vehicle being driven away even if a thief gains entry. There are a range of security rated products that can help such as steering wheel locks, pedal boxes and gear stick locks. Immobilisers prevent a vehicle from starting unless the correct fob, key or activation process is used. They can be personalised so that you’re the only one who knows how to unset it via a number of dashboard controls.
• Double check electronic locking – Electronic devices can be used to jam the electronic signal from your key fob to lock your vehicle. Always manually check your vehicle has locked before walking away. In unsure, lock it manually then scan the immediate area for anyone hanging around. If a potential thief who’s watching feels they’ve been spotted, they’ll probably move off.
• Items of value – Make sure any items of value are removed from the vehicle to a secure location if possible. Make a note of the serial numbers of your items and keep it in a safe place so any items that are stolen can be identified when they are recovered.

For more safety and security advice, see Preventing car and vehicle theft | Crime Prevention | Derbyshire Constabulary