| A recent story of opportunistic thieves in East | | | | into a car has other repercussions for the owner: |
| London who drilled a hole into the side of a car's | | | | time spent filling in forms with police and insurance |
| petrol tank and siphoned out the petrol is not | | | | companies and money spent on repairs and more |
| unusual. When asked what they did with their car | | | | expensive insurance premiums. |
| after the expensive repairs took place the | | | | An effective car alarm and immobiliser – with |
| owners replied: "We found a secure parking | | | | stickers declaring the fact that they are both |
| space." | | | | installed - and a steering lock or wheel nuts will |
| The simplicity of this solution is clear instantly. | | | | also deter all but the most determined and |
| Thieves are opportunists, and this means that if | | | | foolhardy criminal. Making a car unappealing to |
| they aren't given the opportunity to steal the | | | | thieves isn't difficult. Etching the vehicle registration |
| chances are that they won't. There are several | | | | number onto windscreens (front and back,) |
| well-documented ways to deter thieves that don't | | | | windows and headlights will make thieves think |
| inconvenience car owners too much and many | | | | twice about taking a car, as they will about a car |
| boil down to simple common sense. | | | | which has been parked in a secure area. |
| For example, leave the car empty. Of course | | | | While secure London parking might sound like a |
| leaving handbags, wallets and laptop bags on | | | | contradiction in terms, it is still possible to find |
| display is utter foolishness, but even coats and | | | | secure parking in London if you look in the right |
| plastic bags which may be full of rubbish might be | | | | place. Car parking in London in areas patrolled by |
| enough to attract the attention of a petty | | | | CCTV or security are one option, while another is |
| criminal. Remember, while they may not actually | | | | contacting 247 Parking for block-booked secure |
| take anything of value, the process of breaking | | | | and cheap parking in London. |