How to keep your classic safe from thieves

If classic car enthusiasts were to rank their worst nightmares, losing a classic to car thieves would top the list. Stolen vehicle specialists Tracker say that, as values have increased across the board, the majority of classics are stolen to order, stripped and abandoned, with the South East of the UK a particular hotspot owing to the vicinity of Europe bound ports.

That’s not to say that petty thieves don’t seize on opportunity, or steal complete cars to sell on under a false identity; in isolated cases, classic cars have ended up banger raced.

As the weather improves, more classic cars are heading out into public areas – to shows, to pubs, out and about. This visibility makes them vulnerable. Storage sites can vary; some people use their classics every day, others save them for the better weather in driveways, compounds, sheds or quiet streets.

‘The warmer months are always the most popular for classic car owners to showcase their prized possessions, but unfortunately this also means they need to be more vigilant.

Although classic cars have always been a target for opportunistic thieves, they are gaining popularity with organised criminals due to their attractiveness as financial investments,’ said Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker.

Dr Ken German, formerly of the Met Police’s Stolen Car Squad, now Branch Editor and Media Consultant for the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI), further detailed why thieves might want to target a classic car:

‘They have inferior security, compared to today’s vehicles and are easier to break into which also leaves them vulnerable to opportunistic thieves,’ he said.

With the experience of both Tracker and IAATI on side, we consider the five best ways to stop your classic car from being stolen.

1. Fit a Tracker (or a tracking device) if you can afford one

Tracker’s research has found that the first 24 hours after a car has been stolen are the most important. Within that 24 hours, a car can usually be taken to a port for shipping, or stripped in a so-called ‘chop shop’.

The odds of recovery decrease if the thieves get the car into a container.
Dr German said: ‘Much is quoted about trafficking these complete cars and bikes and its worth bearing in mind that fewer than 2 per cent of the world’s 500 million containers that travel around the world daily are ever examined.

Tracking devices are turning out to be the best answer to recovery (once stolen) with top companies posting 95 per cent positive results.’

Clive Wain added: ‘Although a TRACKER device won’t prevent a vehicle from being stolen, it’s clear from our figures that they do increase the chances of it being recovered and returned by the police. We continue to work closely with all UK police forces, helping to close the net on the criminals.’
It’s worth also bearing in mind that some thieves aren’t above using tracking devices or long-life wildlife cameras to track the movements of cars, and the whereabouts of their owners.

‘Professional thieves will use tracking devices to attach to a car they wish to steal and that may be hours or days later,’ said Dr German.

2. Be vigilant if out and about

Tracker advises parking in well-lit areas and under the watch of CCTV cameras. Guarded car parks with sensors are another good bet if they’re available in your area.

Make sure the doors, windows and boot are closed and locked, and don’t leave valuables on show; you want it to be the least tempting target there is to thieves of all kinds.

3. Visible deterrents are worth considering

Dr German suggested ways and means of making your classic as difficult as possible to have away. ‘These items can be steering wheel locks, ignition cut out to enclosed lockable pedal boxes […] even disconnecting the battery,’ he said.

Anything that slows a thief down or makes a lot of noise if removed will buy you time. Even parking with your steering at full lock makes it harder (and louder) for a thief to put the car on a trailer or low loader.

An alarm is another noise-making deterrent worth considering, but make sure it’s wired in properly so that it can’t be easily silenced or runs to the point of interfering with other systems on the car.

Less visible (but no less important) are UV and forensic markings on key parts and body panels; etched glass also has a role to play.

Dr German said: ‘Adding some forensic marking would assist here should the car be stripped into various parts. Establishing ownership is what the police need if charges are to be brought against the culprits.’

4. Carefully consider where you store the car

If you can afford a garage – use it, as Tracker advises, as well as, if possible, blocking your classic in with a modern car when you’re not there.

Tracker also asserts that leaving the keys in the garage is a bad idea; furthermore, disconnecting the battery or taking it with you when you leave the car also makes it harder to take the car as a runner.

‘While these classic cars are not troubled by today’s phenomenon, (keyless theft) they are vulnerable and many victims have taken to removing road wheels for peace of mind.’ Dr German said.

Chocking the wheels, jacking the car up or even removing a wheel or two also makes removing the car difficult; chocks and jacks (particularly trolley jacks) make a lot of noise if disturbed.

5. If it does disappear, get the message out – quickly

Social media is an invaluable tool nowadays – it puts the crime in front of thousands online. In recent years, Facebook and Twitter have been instrumental in recovering cars, as have enthusiast and banger racing forums.

Get three or four images into a post, list the car’s year, registration, make, model and any distinctive parts. Listing the plate is important as if there are any similar cars in the area, the registration mark will help discount that car from a police investigation.

Contacting the police and Tracker (where fitted) is also crucial; let them know as soon as possible.
Local minicab firms are also worth contacting; their drivers are out around the clock and can react faster than a CCTV room if the right information is sent their way.