How to Keep Your Cars Safe at Home
Car theft is a worry that many drivers contend with. Understanding the statistics behind car theft in Ireland will help you to feel safer. For the best peace of mind, working with home security experts such as Network Security adds that extra layer of protection.
Statistics for car theft in Ireland
Figures for 2024 show that there had been a 4% increase in car theft reports (7,919), with the majority of motor vehicle thefts taking place in Dublin (4,305 of the total number), and Cork (851) and Limerick (502) making up the two and three spots on the list. The numbers did, of course, drop during 2020 and 2021, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and most people staying indoors for months at a time.
How to keep cars safe
There are a few tips that will help you to keep your cars safe at home. With a multi-pronged approach to your car safety, you can sleep peacefully at night.
Evaluate your home security systems
A home security system is a good way to boost security for your home, both indoors and outdoors. If you park your car outside your home, security cameras and sensors linked to a wider home alarm system is a good start, but there are also additional security products that you can purchase to help. Wireless camera detectors and wireless sounders help to promote home security outside as well as inside your property.
Install a lock on your steering wheel
Steering wheel locks may look old-fashioned but there’s a reason they have remained so popular over the decades. They are no-nonsense, robust, and lock in a simple fashion, securing your steering wheel with a metal bar sitting across the wheel or sometimes a cover for the entire wheel. They act as a deterrent to criminals and are extremely durable.
Better key security
Many modern cars have keyless entry, where you can start the car with your key fob still in your bag or pocket. A protective pouch is a great way to protect from criminals potentially hacking the signal between your car and the key fob, allowing them to open a car in just seconds. By blocking the signal, you are taking a simple step that could prevent car theft.
GPS tracker
A GPS tracker won’t help deter a criminal or stop them in action, but it does add another layer of security that could help you, and the authorities, to track down your stolen car in the worst-case scenario.
Maintain good habits
Alongside the use of car and home security products, getting into good daily habits helps to add other layers of security for your car. Always keep valuables out of sight, locked in the glovebox or removed from the car completely when you leave it. Park in sight whenever possible, as it is handy to quickly look out of your window and see your car parked safely. If you are stepping out of the car, even for just a few seconds, always remove the key from the ignition. It’s better to be safe than sorry, even if it seems excessive in some cases.
Act fast
If you’ve lost your keys, they are stolen, or your car has been stolen, it’s important to act as quickly as possible. For keys, get a new set of keys cut as soon as you can. If there is a broken window, fix it up quickly. If the car is stolen, get to your local Garda station and have your car make, model, and registration number handy. Also ask for a reference number to track the situation clearly.
Keep your cars safe when parking at home
When you park your car at home and head inside for the night, it’s important that you have peace of mind that it is safe where you have left it. Protecting against the potential of car theft is important, as you never know when a criminal might chance upon your home and see an opportunity to steal a car. Network Security offers support for homeowners across Ireland, keeping homes and belongings safe. This includes protecting your cars, whether they are parked on a driveway outside your urban home, in a garage or outbuilding, or out in the open in a larger rural property. Get a free security consultation today and we’ll be happy to put together a plan of action to keep your cars safe at home.
