dwasson
06-08-2006, 12:14 PM
From: http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=844232006
Breaking into new cars is now virtually impossible, say thieves
ALASTAIR DALTON TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT
NEW cars are virtually impossible to break into, experts and former thieves agreed yesterday, as French and German manufacturers took the lion's share of the latest vehicle security awards.
Citroën and Peugeot received two accolades each, while Audi was named best manufacturer. Renault, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz also won one category each in the British Insurance Car Security Awards.
Improved security measures, such as engine immobilisers, have been reflected in fewer thefts from cars and of vehicles themselves in Scotland. Manufacturers also pointed out they reduced insurance ratings.
However, motoring groups warned that, as a result, cases of carjacking and housebreaking to steal car keys were increasing.
Thatcham, the motor insurance repair research centre, which hosted the awards, said developments were helping to win the war on car theft in Britain. Mike Briggs, its vehicle security manager, said: "The theft of new vehicles without the key, or physically towing it away, is nigh impossible.
"Now we would like to see further improvements on stopping criminals stealing valuables from vehicles."
The awards were based on levels of equipment deterring thefts from and of cars, such as double locks, locking rear seats, alarms and security glass.
Citroën triumphed in the two smallest car categories, with its C3 Exclusive named the most secure supermini for the third year. Its C4 Exclusive was the most secure small family car for the second year.
Although these are top-of-the-range models, Citroën said some security equipment was standard across the ranges.
The Peugeot 407 won two awards - the Executive was the most secure family car and the Coupé the most secure performance car.
Jim Dunn, The Scotsman's motoring editor, has praised the Coupé, saying it is "loaded with equipment as standard" - a comment that has become the focus of Peugeot's latest advertising campaign. Audi was named best manufacturer, for its A2, A3, A4 (except Cabriolet), A6/Allroad 4x4, A8 and TT (except Roadster) models. The Audi A6 saloon was also named the most secure executive car.
Vernon Coaker, a Home Office minister, said: "I praise those manufacturers that have made significant improvements to security which has helped see a massive reduction in vehicle crime."
A convicted car thief who attended the awards ceremony said he had been forced to give up car crime after 15 years stealing more than 100 vehicles in south-east London and Kent.
Identified as "Paul", he said: "It just became too hard. Ten or 15 years ago, I could break into a car, attack the electrics to start the engine and then drive it off - in under a minute. The immobilisers and alarms got better and better; now it is too difficult to bother. You need to have it towed away, or be in the possession of the key, to steal a new car now."
Scottish Executive figures show thefts from vehicles fell by 24 per cent to 20,403 and thefts of vehicles dropped 11 per cent to 15,633 in the year to March 2005. The Executive said several police forces had attributed the decreases to better car security.
But the AA Motoring Trust said better vehicle security was having unpleasant side-effects.
Neil Greig, its head of policy in Scotland, said: "The unintended consequences of making cars so secure is we may be seeing an increase in carjacking and violence to drivers, and break-ins of houses to get keys. Even a basic new car has an immobiliser, and you are not going to be able to start it without a key."
Breaking into new cars is now virtually impossible, say thieves
ALASTAIR DALTON TRANSPORT CORRESPONDENT
NEW cars are virtually impossible to break into, experts and former thieves agreed yesterday, as French and German manufacturers took the lion's share of the latest vehicle security awards.
Citroën and Peugeot received two accolades each, while Audi was named best manufacturer. Renault, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz also won one category each in the British Insurance Car Security Awards.
Improved security measures, such as engine immobilisers, have been reflected in fewer thefts from cars and of vehicles themselves in Scotland. Manufacturers also pointed out they reduced insurance ratings.
However, motoring groups warned that, as a result, cases of carjacking and housebreaking to steal car keys were increasing.
Thatcham, the motor insurance repair research centre, which hosted the awards, said developments were helping to win the war on car theft in Britain. Mike Briggs, its vehicle security manager, said: "The theft of new vehicles without the key, or physically towing it away, is nigh impossible.
"Now we would like to see further improvements on stopping criminals stealing valuables from vehicles."
The awards were based on levels of equipment deterring thefts from and of cars, such as double locks, locking rear seats, alarms and security glass.
Citroën triumphed in the two smallest car categories, with its C3 Exclusive named the most secure supermini for the third year. Its C4 Exclusive was the most secure small family car for the second year.
Although these are top-of-the-range models, Citroën said some security equipment was standard across the ranges.
The Peugeot 407 won two awards - the Executive was the most secure family car and the Coupé the most secure performance car.
Jim Dunn, The Scotsman's motoring editor, has praised the Coupé, saying it is "loaded with equipment as standard" - a comment that has become the focus of Peugeot's latest advertising campaign. Audi was named best manufacturer, for its A2, A3, A4 (except Cabriolet), A6/Allroad 4x4, A8 and TT (except Roadster) models. The Audi A6 saloon was also named the most secure executive car.
Vernon Coaker, a Home Office minister, said: "I praise those manufacturers that have made significant improvements to security which has helped see a massive reduction in vehicle crime."
A convicted car thief who attended the awards ceremony said he had been forced to give up car crime after 15 years stealing more than 100 vehicles in south-east London and Kent.
Identified as "Paul", he said: "It just became too hard. Ten or 15 years ago, I could break into a car, attack the electrics to start the engine and then drive it off - in under a minute. The immobilisers and alarms got better and better; now it is too difficult to bother. You need to have it towed away, or be in the possession of the key, to steal a new car now."
Scottish Executive figures show thefts from vehicles fell by 24 per cent to 20,403 and thefts of vehicles dropped 11 per cent to 15,633 in the year to March 2005. The Executive said several police forces had attributed the decreases to better car security.
But the AA Motoring Trust said better vehicle security was having unpleasant side-effects.
Neil Greig, its head of policy in Scotland, said: "The unintended consequences of making cars so secure is we may be seeing an increase in carjacking and violence to drivers, and break-ins of houses to get keys. Even a basic new car has an immobiliser, and you are not going to be able to start it without a key."