The latest Home Office statistics provided by the RAC states that in the year from July 2022 to June 2023 there were 104,678 vehicle thefts reported in the UK. The most shocking aspect of this is that only 2.215 individuals were caught and convicted. This represents just a 2.12% conviction rate.

Despite advances in vehicle security, thieves can override some of these by using signal hacking to target vehicles which have keyless entry or trackers to target certain high-value vehicles. Others simply use old-fashioned methods such as breaking into vehicles which have no modern security systems or breaking into homes to steal keys.

Unfortunately it is a sad fact that vehicle owners today must look at every type of vehicle security system on the market to keep their pride and joy safe, from simple mechanical deterrents like steering locks to more sophisticated solutions such as GPS trackers.

Experts in tracker and immobiliser systems can offer expert advice to anyone looking to upgrade their vehicle protection so let’s look at what they say are the types of vehicle security solutions that are on the market today.

Dash Cams

These are increasingly seen as invaluable evidence providers in crash or other accident situations but can also act as a deterrent against theft of or from the vehicle. This evidence can be useful in legal disputes and insurance claims. You can pay anything from less than £50 up to several hundred pounds depending on the features you want, whether a simple short-term record and playback or fast wi-fi to app connection, GPS and in-parking mode.

GPS Trackers

As with dash cams there are a variety of GPS trackers available on the market with prices and features to suit all budgets and requirements. The most basic function of a GPS tracker is the ability to pinpoint your vehicle’s exact location at all times which means you can much more easily recover your car should it be stolen or moved without authorisation. Some will send alerts to your electronic device or to a designated security monitoring centre.

Whether you can install a tracker yourself depends on whether the device is battery-driven or wired, so do take advice first from a qualified installer.

Engine Immobilisers

An engine immobiliser is an effective and valuable tool to have in your vehicle security arsenal. These work by blocking the signal which would normally be sent by your key or fob to the ECU to start the engine. Most vehicles nowadays come with factory-fitted immobiliser systems. Unfortunately the most sophisticated thieves in possession of the latest signal-hacking technology are able to override some vehicle systems. This is why it’s important to consider getting the best and latest immobiliser such as the market-leading Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser, which prevents a thief from hacking into your engine. Again, there is a wide range of immobilisers to choose from depending on your needs and your budget. 

Mechanical Security Devices

These include things like steering wheel locks and wheel nut locks which provide an added layer of security for your vehicle. They are designed to deter opportunist thieves and make it more difficult and time-consuming for a thief to break into your car. Devices such as these are considered as Thatcham Category 4 deterrents.

Thatcham Research certifies vehicle security systems and for this reason has become the industry benchmark and one which insurance companies use when assessing risk.

Each of these options provides different levels of security so consider using a combination for comprehensive protection. Always take advice from a specialist company on which types of electronic security are compatible with your vehicle.