Advertizer - Issue 186 - March 2010 (Gryffe)

Don’t be a victim of car crime says IAM
Despite alarm systems being ﬁ tted as standard and an increase in video
surveillance over the years, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) has
warned against complacency and given drivers advice on how to reduce
the chances of a car break-in or theft.
Peter Rodger, IAM Chief Examiner, said: “It seems obvious, but we’d
still remind drivers, where possible, to park in a well lit, busy area with
valuables out of view - and make sure your car has both an alarm and an
immobiliser.
IT Blog by Colin Fyfe
“Never underestimate the determination of some thieves: don’t leave
I often ﬁ nd web browsers obliterated by internet
your car keys in a bowl or on a rack by the door - one of the most common
toolbars, sometimes to the extent that the viewable
methods of stealing a car is using a pole to reach through the letterbox to
web page is squished to almost half its normal size.
get the keys,” said Mr Rodger.
These ‘browser add-on’s’ are more than just benign
If you have a garage, now’s the time to clear out the ski boots and rolls
web helpers, they can push all sorts of pay sites at the user. Some toolbars
of old carpet and make way for the thing it was built for – your car –
choke off free searches and won’t allow easy navigation to the sites you
although cars have got bigger over the years, meaning most of us have to
want to use. Most offer tools that you probably won’t use. Toolbars have
park outside which affects both road safety and car security.
caused freeze-ups and crashes on my client’s computers. At best you can
More advice on avoiding car crime:
expect a slower internet browser performance, at worst a security risk.
•Try to use a car park with the ‘ParkMark’ logo which means it has
If you open your internet browser you will ﬁ nd the address bar, where
achieved basic standards of security - but remember that you have no
your homepage URL will be displayed. If underneath this you see any
consumer rights in a car park and the car park operator has no legal
other bars that look colourful with a brand name then you probably have
responsibility whatsoever to protect your car.
a toolbar.
•Thieves will break into homes to get the keys to steal a car. If your car
From time to time these can be handy, for example the Google toolbar
is high value, check the security of your home.
gives a Google search no matter what page you are on. It also offers a
form ﬁ lling tool and a translator, both handy if you want to ﬁ ll out a
•Don’t leave the keys in the ignition when ﬁ lling up your car with fuel or
Chinese immigration document but a little on the exotic side for most
warming it up - remember your insurance could be invalidated if you do
web users.
and your car is stolen.
To disable a toolbar using Internet Explorer Open your browser and right
•Don’t leave a satnav ﬁ tting on
click on the grey area around the toolbar. A dropdown menu will appear
display, and rub off any ring left on the
with ticks next to selected toolbars. Un-tick
windscreen by the suction pad - a thief
any you don’t use and see more website
will smash the window and go straight
appear. Variations on the same theme exist
to the glove compartment to ﬁ nd it.
for other browsers. For complete removal
•Never store your car’s documents go to Programs and Features / Add or
within it and keep the glove box empty, Remove Programs in the Control Panel and
leaving it open to make it clear there remove the offending article.
isn’t anything inside.
If you ﬁ nd there to be a toolbar that keeps
•Consider ﬁ tting a vehicle tracking reappearing or that cannot be removed
device to help track and ﬁ nd your car from the computer then it may be worth
if it gets stolen. ﬁ nding out its intentions as it could be
Mr Rodger added: “The value of
malicious.
property stolen from your car may be See main advert on page 7 or email your
relatively low, but the cost of repair questions to colin@colcom.info
to the car will be considerably more,
not to mention the inconvenience, so
vigilance and common sense could save
you money and hassle.”
MARCH 2010 | send your ARTICLES & PHOTOS to info@advertizer.co.uk www.advertizer.co.uk| 01505 874385 | www.theadvertizer.co.uk 29
186_MAR10_28-29 CARS-GADGETS.ind.indd 29 19/02/2010 11:49:49
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