[ Focus: Insurance ]


The good news is that you can stay one step ahead of the game and make sure that your vehicle – and the things inside it – are as safe as possible.


Be aware of the hidden precious metals in your vehicle As the price of precious metals has soared, so have incidents of catalytic convertor theft – simply because, first, they contain valuable metals such as platinum or gold, and second, they are often secured by only four bolts. This makes them an easy, very tempting target for thieves. Indeed, according to the BBC, reports of stolen catalytic convertors have more than doubled over the past three years, with one small business owner reporting that 15 of his vehicles were stripped of their catalytic convertors one night in just 45 minutes. He estimated at the time that the cost to his business would be in excess of £100,000 when he combined the cost of hiring new vehicles, repairing those that were damaged and the subsequent loss of revenue. Vehicles with high ground clearance are particularly vulnerable, but there are easy, effective ways to safeguard against this threat. By installing a Catloc, an alarm will sound as soon as anyone attempts to cut your exhaust pipe or remove the retaining bolts. This deterrent will prevent both the theft of the catalytic convertor – a very expensive bit of kit to replace – and any damage to your vehicle. It is also possible to mark your catalytic convertor, using acidic engraving, to help the police identify it in the event of theft. In many parts of the UK, police forces and garages have teamed up to offer free identification engraving on all vehicles that come in for a service or MOT. The vehicles can then be fitted with a sticker, alerting any would-be criminals to the fact that the convertor is tagged.


Easy access for thieves We’ve all seen the footage on television of thieves hotwiring cars and vans to make a quick getaway. With the new key technology available, you’d think those days were gone – but you’d be wrong. Some makes of vehicle have locks that can be opened in less than 60 seconds, using specialist lock picks that can be bought cheaply online, complete with instructions on how to use them. We would recommend you consider replacing all your locks with those endorsed by Thatcham Research, which have been through rigorous testing. Additional locks, such as Slamlocks, which automatically lock doors when they are shut, Slamplates, which add an extra layer of protection over door handles, and deadlocks, which add extra locking points, should also be considered. The use of electronic keys has also brought with


it a new challenge for thieves. How many of us simply shut the door then press the button as we walk away, safe in the knowledge that our van is locked? Increasingly, lock-jammers are being used by criminals to block the signal transmitted by the key


You can stay one step ahead of the game and make sure that your vehicle – and the things inside it – are as safe as possible


fob – tricking you into believing that the van is locked when it is not. This is an easy crime to prevent – you just need to be more vigilant and make sure that you have actually locked the van every time you leave it. Perhaps more alarmingly, in recent times a tool has been developed by thieves that allows them to open Ford Transit van doors without force. The tool has a number of spindles, which are manipulated in the lock, and within 30 seconds it can be used as easily as a key to open and close the van door without detection. The only way to combat this threat is to take greater care to safeguard items in a van and not simply rely on the van being locked as a safe way of protecting the items inside it.


Technology takes over from


old-fashioned hotwiring Although thieves may have gained access to the van, driving it away is another matter. New technology means it is now almost impossible to hotwire a car manually. However, criminals have discovered a new way to steal your van – by overriding the manufacturer’s immobilisation system, connecting a laptop/PDA to the on- board diagnostic (OBD) system socket and programming a new key into the engine control unit (ECU). They start by decoding the manufacturer’s door lock, which unlocks all of the doors, disables the alarm and gives them the key combination for your van so they can get a key cut with a new chip. Once the key is cut, they return to the van, unlock


the doors with the new key and then connect their laptop/PDA into the OBD/ECU connection, through which they can program in the new key, start the vehicle and drive it away – all without causing any damage. Protection devices are readily available that can prevent this from happening, and they are certainly worth investing in. GPS services used for fleet tracking can also


provide an extra line of defence against theft. While professional thieves will know where to find a GPS device and remove it before driving off, many opportunist thieves will not. If they steal your vehicle, you can then track its whereabouts and alert the police.


Speak to the experts – About the author


Phil Scarrett is sales and marketing director of the Electrical Contractors’ Insurance Company (ECIC).


your insurers All this may sound very alarmist, but it is worth remembering that it is the little steps you can take – such as making sure your drivers are trained to lock doors every time they leave their vehicles – that can make all the difference. If you lease vehicles, then you can specify to your leasing company the security features you would like included, and they will also be able to help you with replacement vans while any that get damaged by criminals are repaired. Above all, be alert to the ever-evolving tactics of


organised and opportunistic thieves. Forewarned is forearmed.


March 2014 ECA Today 51


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