Keep your car safe!

Some sound obvious but, with the sheer number of cars that can easily be stolen, these tips could make all the difference when it comes to deterring thieves.

Never leave valuables in plain sight, even if you're only going to be away from your car for a short time.

Invest in a steering wheel lock. Even cheap ones will act as a deterrent, but a lock accredited by the police security initiative Secured By Design will be much harder for thieves to break - these cost around £120.

Consider where you park at night, when cars are far more likely to be stolen. If you can't park in a locked garage, consider investing in CCTV for your driveway or park in a well-lit area on the street.

Double check your doors are actually locked when using the remote-locking button on your key, in case thieves are trying to block the signal from your remote.

Always keep your key out of sight at home and as far away from your front door as possible.

If you have a keyless car, consider buying a metal case for your key fob as this can block the signal produced by your key. But be aware that the key needs to be completely surrounded by a metal layer, without even the slightest gap, to be protected from the relay attack. Contact your car's manufacturer to find out if there are any extra steps you can take to protect your specific model.

The full version of this article is in the February issue of Which? magazine.

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/01/how-easy-is-your-car-to-steal/