Car theft remains a big issue across the UK. According to car theft statistics in the UK, in 2023-24 there was an increase in vehicle thefts, with 130,119 car thefts being reported across the country. With Birmingham ranking 5th in this list, you might now be concerned about the safety of your car. This guide will show you different ways to keep your vehicle safe and how to avoid car theft in Birmingham. So, let’s jump right in.
What Are The Most Common Areas For Car Theft In Birmingham?
Now you are probably wondering, how many offences of theft are there in my area? The leading area for car thefts in Birmingham in 2023 was in the city centre, with 810 crimes reported over the calendar year. This averages around 67 vehicle thefts per week and over 16 incidents by month in Birmingham. The city centre’s large population will influence this statistic, but it again highlights the amount of vehicle crime going on in the area. The other places with high motor vehicle theft rates in Birmingham include:
- Small Heath & Highgate: 636 thefts
- Aston: 596 thefts
- Edgbaston: 576 thefts
- Smiths Wood: 510 thefts
- Ladywood: 441 thefts
- Nechells: 444 thefts
- Shard End: 429 thefts
- South Yardley: 459 thefts
- Sparbrook: 432 thefts
- Harborne: 404 thefts
Although West Midlands police expect to see a reduction in vehicle crime numbers, British drivers should still be careful when parking in crime hotspots. Here are a few additional security measures you can take to help keep your vehicle safe:
Hiding Away Valuables: Once you’ve finally found a parking spot, it can often be easy to jump out, lock the doors and head to your next destination. Although many are probably guilty of it, you mustn’t display any valuables on show. Whether this be a wallet, a mobile phone or laptop, make sure you hide away these items as they can be an attractive motive for an intruder to enter your vehicle.
Use a Steering Lock: First of all, a steering lock provides a visible deterrent to thieves, reducing the likelihood of vehicle entry. They also offer an extra layer of security, making it more time-consuming for thieves to steal a vehicle with a steering lock on. Also, they are cost-effective and efficient to use.
Keeping your keys safe: How many times do you ask yourself, ‘Where are my keys?’. Although more often or not they turn up in a pocket, for many victims of car theft, this is a different outcome. Make sure your keys are in a safe place like a zip-up bag or a jacket pocket to avoid dropping the keys or having them stolen directly from an open pocket. However, car thieves have been known to use keyless entry to break into cars within minutes.
The Safest Areas To Park In Birmingham
Despite focusing on car theft, there are many safe areas to park in Birmingham. To make sure you reduce car theft in Birmingham, parking in the right place is a huge helping hand when it comes to keeping your vehicle safe. Here is a list of some of the safest spots in the city:
- Q-Park: They have two safe and secure parking areas in Brindley Place and within the Mailbox. It is open to everyone but they offer discounts for members.
- The Paradise Car Park: This car park features CCTV and regular security patrols. It was also awarded the Park Mark Plus Accreditation for meeting the highest quality of modern car parks.
- Bullring Car Park: In a central location, this car park is perfect for visiting attractions in the city centre. They have CCTV surveillance and regular patrols.
How do I know if a car park in Birmingham is safe?
Picking the right spot can be tricky, especially if you aren’t too familiar with an area. However, there are some quick observations that you can make when deciding if a car park in Birmingham is reliable or not. Firstly, see if you can see visible CCTV cameras. No matter how safe a car park feels, it is always good to have eyes on your vehicle at all times. This way, in the unfortunate event that car theft does occur, you have proof of forced entry into your car. CCTV is also a great deterrent for thieves, making it less likely they will attempt to steal a vehicle in a car park with cameras.
Another factor to consider is the lighting within a car park. If a car park is well-lit, it can reduce the risk of theft or harm. Having good lighting will also help you locate your vehicle once you have returned from your destination in Birmingham. Also, consider the location’s reputation as a theft hotspot to see if it’s worth parking elsewhere. When parking in an area with a high car theft rate, you might want to take extra precautions like installing a tracker or a highly rated immobiliser in your vehicle.
How to prevent vehicle theft in Birmingham
Although selecting a safe car park is a good way to reduce the chances of car theft in Birmingham, there are some other safety precautions to take. Firstly, making sure your car has an immobiliser fitted is an important consideration when thinking about car safety. Factory-fitted immobilisers have been a legal requirement on vehicles made in 1998 and onwards. Some luxury vehicles made before this date might have one, but others do not. If you own an older vehicle, installing an immobiliser is a great idea. Even if you don’t have an old car, upgrading to a more secure immobiliser like a Cobra could help keep your vehicle more secure.
Another method of car theft prevention is by purchasing a GPS tracker. In the unfortunate event that your car is stolen in a vehicle crime incident, a GPS tracker can help locate the precise location of your vehicle so that you can give evidence for police to deal with.
At Motor Guard, we offer GPS trackers from industry-leading brands such as Cobra, Meta and Smart Trac. All of the trackers at Motor Guard are insurance-approved so that you can be sure you will be covered if you ever need to make an insurance claim.
As a standard, most vehicles are not installed with a reliable car alarm system. If you want to be on the safe side, having one installed could be smart. Installing a car alarm will act as a good theft deterrent as the car will make a loud noise in busy areas. Another benefit of having a high-quality alarm installed is the potential reductions you may receive on your insurance policy. However, it is important to note that this is not definitely covered by all insurance policies. Our experts at Motor Guard can install alarms on nearly all vehicles at our base in Birmingham.
The Importance Of Vehicle Crime Awareness to Prevent Car Theft in Birmingham
Hopefully, this guide has given you a better idea about how to avoid the inconvenience of vehicle crime in Birmingham. You might even be interested in purchasing a car alarm, a GPS tracking system or a new immobiliser for your vehicle. If so, our expert team is here to help you every step along the way. Our team can guarantee a service that you will be more than satisfied with, just take a look at our excellent reviews! As the Midlands leading security and audio specialists, we know exactly how important vehicle safety is to our customers. If you want to find out more about our full range of vehicle security solutions, please do not hesitate to contact us.