Is your car secure for winter?
Drivers who do not feel that their beloved vehicle is protected enough to deter criminals over the winter months have been given some advice to heighten the motor's security.
With dark nights rolling in at the earliest possible time of the year and the expensive Christmas period now here, the Institute of Advance Motorists (IAM) has offered a series of tips.
Simon Elstow, head of driving training, pointed out: "The combination of cold weather and Christmas often sends shoppers to local shopping centres and supermarkets.
"Don't let your car become a target for thieves."
One simple way to avoid a car being targeted by criminals this year is to always park a vehicle in a well-lit and open part of town.
When visiting a city centre to get the last remaining Christmas presents in, the IAM advises that motorists try to use the free parking facilities that many councils offer over the festive season.
Enquiring with a local council can help drivers determine where these sites can be found within a city.
Before leaving the vehicle, the organisation also urged all car users to ensure they have put all valuables away from peeking eyes – out of sight, out of mind.
When it comes to hiding a sat-nav, it is also wise to remove the device's cradle and ring marks from the windscreen, so that no evidence of the gadget can be spotted.
Recently, Ford's Vehicle Security Department team in Dunton, England, created the Keyless Entry remote central locking device, which alerts motorists if they have failed to successfully lock a motor.
Commenting on the innovative device, Simon Hurr, vehicle security specialist at Ford of Europe, commented: "Working with the police to analyse trends in car crime and the methods used by criminals, enables us to develop ways to prevent thieves from spoiling what should be the happiest time of year for Ford owners."
