Car cannibalism is on the rise – here’s how to stop your motor being targeted

A CAR expert claims that car cannibalism is on the rise – and has provided a few tips to stop your motor from being targeted.

Bonnets, bumpers and headlights are being ripped from motors as part of a new crime trend dubbed “car cannibalism,” with parked vehicles being picked to order by gangs.

3

3

Handily, the online parts retailer My Motor World has revealed ways to help prevent these unscrupulous thieves from pulling your motor to pieces.

Park in a safe area

Always park your car in a safe area, even when parking for short durations.

For long stays, private car parks and garages are the safest as they are usually locked and have CCTV or other security measures in place.

However, if you don’t have access to one of these, then a well-lit area with lots of footfall may be enough of a deterrent.

Since many of the parts being stolen are from the front of the vehicle, it could be useful to park facing a wall where possible to make the theft more difficult.

Always ensure that your vehicle is locked and take your keys with you — not only is this safer, but many car insurance premiums won’t pay out if you haven’t properly secured your car.

Mark your parts

It’s unlikely you’ll ever recover your parts if they are stolen, but marking them can make it easier for the police to identify them, which means you potentially could get your stolen parts back.

In some cases, marked parts can be a deterrent if the thief notices the marking, as they’ll be more reluctant to steal a part that can be traced.

People buying the parts may also realise they have been stolen if they’re marked, and if so, they may be more likely to contact the police.  

Use technology

It’s worth putting a camera in your vehicle, such as a dashcam, if you haven’t already, and a tracker can help you locate your car in the event that it is stolen.

If you park in a driveway or just outside your home, a video camera on your property may catch the thieves in the act and prove useful to the police investigation.

A security light that goes on when it senses movement can even be enough of a deterrent, and both of these options may be cheaper than replacing the stolen parts.

Mark Barclay, Head of E-commerce at My Motor World said: “Like grand theft auto, car cannibalism is another big worry for car owners. Because the parts that are stolen are so hard to retrieve and are of comparatively little value, it’s very unlikely you’ll get them back.

“Taking precautions against theft and ensuring you have insurance are the best ways to protect your car from cannibalism.”

This comes after a car cleaning whizz warned drivers that they should never use a household item to clean their car – saying it’ll do more harm than good.

Plus, drivers have been left stunned after realising that there’s a hidden feature in their car boot.

3