The SAS Survival Driver’s Handbook. John Wiseman

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СКАЧАТЬ inside of the window and prevents the glass from breaking when struck with a brick or other blunt instrument. It will also mean that in the event of an accident the glass will craze rather than showering you with sharp fragments. You will still be able to escape through the window, if necessary, by pushing the whole window out.

       Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

      Every car has its own VIN displayed in the engine compartment. A new innovation, at the moment restricted to luxury cars, is to have the VIN printed on lots of tiny microdots the size of a pin head and scattered throughout the car during manufacture. By examining the car with a special detector it is possible to check that the VIN microdots tally with the number displayed in the engine compartment. Since luxury cars have the greatest risk of being ‘ringed’, these microdot VINs are a feature worth having.

VEHICLE WATCH

      This is a scheme operated by some police forces (so far, mostly in urban areas). It works like this: few people make a habit of driving in the middle of the night (except shiftworkers, who may seldom use their cars in the middle of the day), so the local police will fit stickers to the front and rear windows of the car advertising the hours when it is unlikely to be in use. When a police officer sees a car with a nighttime sticker being driven between 12.30–5.30 a.m. (or 10 a.m.–4.30 p.m. in the case of a day-time sticker), the car will be flagged down as a matter of course and the driver questioned and asked to confirm their identity.

       CARAVAN SECURITY

      There is a thriving market in stolen caravans. They’re more difficult to trace and therefore easier to sell than cars. Don’t trust to luck — take precautions to protect your caravan:

      • Keep a note of the chassis number and put it in a safe place together with the registration documents (DON’T leave these documents in the caravan itself). It’s a good idea to take a photograph of the caravan for insurance purposes, and to draw up a list of any distinguishing features, marks, scratches — for identification purposes in the event that the stolen caravan is recovered.

      • Etch the chassis number on all glass surfaces, and use an ultraviolet pen to mark it on a few other surfaces in the interior.

      • Fit a security device to immobilize the caravan or sound an alarm when it is moved. Activate the security system whenever the caravan is left unattended, even for a short period. Make sure there is a reliable power source that cannot be easily interrupted by a thief, so that the alarm will sound in the event of interference.

      • Do not leave valuable items inside. It’s best to leave the curtains open so that potential thieves can see that there is nothing of value to tempt them — drawn curtains may lead them to suspect that there’s something worth stealing hidden within.

      • Check out the site security before you leave it in a commercial caravan site. A good site will have insurance cover. If the caravan is going to be left on site for some time, remove the wheels.

Basic Precautions

      Around 60 per cent of car-related theft is carried out not by professionals but by casual thieves who take advantage of an easy opportunity such as an unlocked door, boot, or rear hatch, or an open window. A recent survey of motorists found that 29 per cent admitted to leaving their vehicles unlocked at some time. Most would say they only leave the car unattended for a few minutes while popping into the newsagent or filling up with petrol, or when it’s in their garage — but it takes only a matter of minutes for a car to be stolen.

      It’s all very well investing in anti-theft devices and deterrents, but you have to make a habit of using them every time you leave the car. Where fitted, ensure that deadlocks, immobilizers and alarms are engaged before leaving the car and lock the fuel filler cap. Always make sure all doors and windows (including the sunroof) are secure by physically checking each one. This applies even when the car is parked in your own garage or driveway. On cold mornings it may be tempting to start the car and go back indoors to finish your tea while the engine warms up. This is an open invitation to thieves. Always remove the ignition key. Filling station forecourts are a favourite hunting ground for thieves — so many trusting owners go in to pay for their fuel leaving the car unattended and the key in the ignition. When removing the keys engage the steering lock by turning the wheel till it clicks. (Never attempt to move a car without the keys in the ignition, as the steering lock will still be engaged, preventing the wheel from turning.)

      Never leave a child or an animal alone in a car. Thieves won’t be deterred by their presence — they may even make your car a more attractive target. Children have been abducted from cars, and they can suffer injury when left alone, locked inside a parked vehicle. To keep them safe, take them with you.

      Keep your car keys secure at all times and never have the make, number, or your address on the key fob — this will only make life easier for thieves. Just the logo or the manufacturer’s name on a key fob is a breach of security: anyone finding the key can tour the car park trying it in every car of that make until they find yours.

      Your spare set of keys are best kept at home. But it’s a good idea to have another spare key somewhere more accessible in case you manage to lock your keys in the vehicle. There are plenty of hiding places on the vehicle where a key can be secured, like a recess under a bumper or wing. Special magnetic holders are available for this, but don’t rely on the magnet — tape them on as an extra precaution.

       DON’T ADVERTISE

      Make your car as anonymous and unattractive to thieves as possible. Remove temptation: before getting out of the car make sure that no valuables are on display. Never leave a coat, even an old one, lying on the seat — a thief may break in to see whether you have left any money or credit cards in the pockets. The coat may be worthless and the pockets empty, but you’ll find yourself with a hefty bill for replacing the window.

      Lock everything that you cannot carry with you out of sight in the boot. This is particularly important around Christmas time, when you’re rushing back and forth to dump one load of shopping in the car before going off to buy some more. No matter how much of a hurry you’re in, take the time to lock everything in the boot. Mobile phones are a prime target, so make a note of the serial number and keep it in a safe place so a stolen phone can be identified if recovered by the police, and mark your phone and battery with your postcode.

      When going on holiday (or on your return), don’t leave the car unattended while it’s loaded with your luggage. No matter how early a start you’re making, don’t load the car the night before (and when you get back from holiday, regardless how tired you are, make it a priority to unload). It’s all too easy for a thief to do the unloading for you overnight. If you have a garage, load the car indoors and out of sight — you don’t want to advertise the fact that the house is going to be left empty for a couple of weeks. While loading, lock the car behind you and activate the alarm if you have to go back into the house to fetch more items.

      If you have only basic insurance cover for your car, extend your household insurance to cover coats, cameras, luggage, etc in case they are stolen from the car.

      NEVER leave cheques or credit cards in the car, even out of sight in the glove box.

      NEVER leave your driving licence, registration СКАЧАТЬ