Signs your car is being targeted

If you suspect or worry that your car is being targeted for theft or vandalism, there are several warning signs you can look out for. Generally, certain car models have been more attractive to thieves due to factors such as their popularity, lack of effective security features, or the demand for their parts in the black market. While the specific rankings may vary, here are some general trends regarding the types of cars that have been commonly targeted for theft:. Besides these thief trends, if you own one of the cars in this list below, be careful because they are prone to be stolen due to their popularity, signs your car is being targeted, reliability, and the high demand for their parts:.

Leaving your car on your driveway or in a garage overnight, investing in some deterrents like a steering wheel lock or putting up an expensive security camera system should keep car thieves away, right? Even though immobilisers, smart steering wheel locks and keyless entry systems are helping to keep robbers away from our vehicles, savvy crooks are taking advantage of the times that the general public forgets to do the basics. The good news is that by just taking a couple of extra simple precautions, you can instantly reduce the likelihood of your car being stolen. Here are our top tips and products to help you get started. A simple but effective trick is to turn your wheels into the curb or towards another vehicle. As a result, this will make it a lot harder for thieves to make a speedy getaway in your car. Most times, opportunist thieves who rely on a quick getaway will simply walk by a car that has a lock on the steering wheel.

Signs your car is being targeted

Car theft is at its highest levels for almost a decade, with organised criminal gangs targeting high-value cars which they then ship overseas. This means that fewer and fewer stolen cars are ever recovered, and 9 in 10 cases of car theft now go unresolved by the police. Now, lots of new cars are fitted with keyless go, from high-end sports cars to affordable hatchbacks, like the Ford Fiesta. Criminals have developed ways to hack into the technology to steal cars remotely, without having to rely on smash-and-grab tactics. This method of car theft is incredibly quick, with a recent video showing a Mercedes-Benz being stolen in under 23 seconds — and all without a single alarm going off. While car manufacturers are developing ways to make keyless entry more secure, keyless-go cars that are already on the road are at risk. The tail lights should flash, and you should hear the sound of the locks closing. On some vehicles, the wing mirrors will also fold in automatically. To give you the best chance of protecting your car from thieves, we spoke to Ken Munro, Security Researcher and Partner at Pen Test Partners , a security and penetration testing service. Here, Ken offers his best tips for safeguarding your keyless-entry car against theft:.

Refresh and Inspire. Maybe you want to leave the air on for your puppy while you pop into a restaurant to pick up your to-go order, or it just seems easier to leave the engine on while you run to pick up the umbrella you forget, but a humming car motor is an open invitation to thieves. Plant the tracker somewhere else if you want to confuse signs your car is being targeted stalker.

Technological advancements mean criminals can now intercept and replicate the signal from the key fob that is used to open modern vehicles and start the ignition. They can do this if they are near your home, allowing them to steal the vehicle in a matter of minutes. Another way that criminals exploit the key fob is during the process of locking the vehicle. The criminal can then easily steal the contents inside the vehicle, or the vehicle itself. Carjacking is a major issue in certain regions of the world. This involves an attack on a driver with the aim of robbing the person, stealing the car, or both.

Digiye » Home Security. Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may contain affiliate links, which may provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase. This site is not intended to provide financial advice but for entertainment only. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. You rely on your car to get you from point A to point B, but have you ever considered that it could be a target for theft or vandalism? Unfortunately, cars are often targeted by criminals who are looking for an easy target. However, there are signs that can indicate when your car is being targeted and steps you can take to prevent it. The first sign that your car may be targeted is physical damage or tampering. This could include scratches on the paint job, broken windows or locks, or even evidence of attempts to hotwire the vehicle.

Signs your car is being targeted

Forest Park police say there have been six reported thefts of the vehicle brands since June The thefts are mostly of Kia models newer than and Hyundai models newer than , according to police. The theft of these vehicle brands seems to be part of a growing social media trend happening across the United States, police explained. The thefts reported in Forest Park since June 21 have happened at varying locations, but police said three vehicles were stolen from large apartment complexes during the overnight hours.

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More References 6. What you ought to know before buying a secondhand vehicle. What is ASR on a Car? At the end of the day, it's all about making your car visibly unappealing to potential thieves. Watch the video to learn how thieves get into your car and how to protect your car from them:. How to Lift a Car with Jacks. Extremely simple and safe, locking the brake pedal helps drivers avoid having their vehicle stolen. However, thieves are very skillful people and always come up with ideas to break anti-theft protection features on cars. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Hundreds of stolen cars recovered in global police operation against vehicle trafficking 28 June Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee or a one-off payment to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.

Winter weather is starting to hit most of the country. With that, some drivers might be tempted to warm up their vehicles before hitting the road. But starting your car, cranking up the heat, and going back inside your home could cost you.

How to know if your car is being tracked? Strange interference on your phone lines. Trending Articles How to. Here are six things car thief look for—and exploit. Cars that were running in a driveway have even been stolen with car seats holding an infant or child inside. Other people suddenly know secret details. Anti-Slip Regulation Explained Read more. Be specific about these incidents. Follow Us. Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games. Be careful sharing sensitive information in your vehicle. Even though immobilisers, smart steering wheel locks and keyless entry systems are helping to keep robbers away from our vehicles, savvy crooks are taking advantage of the times that the general public forgets to do the basics. Use a GPS bug detector to scan the inside and outside of your car. You can even hear every sound going on in the car. They can be used for joyriding, resale, or transporting stolen goods due to their larger cargo capacity.