Car theft impacts all of us

Don’t take your safety for granted, say top locksmiths companies in Melbourne. Australia is seen to be one of the safest nations in the world. We feel safe walking through the cities and parks alone, without fear of being mugged or held up. It is shocking when the news reports unaggravated crimes, because they are so rare when compared to other nations such as the US. While Australia had a bit of dark reputation several decades ago, the consensus is now that it is a largely safe and secure place to live and raise a family. 

And the rate of car theft in particular is rapidly declining, with only half the reports compared to only five years ago. Despite this, the rates are still too high. One in every 150 households falls victim to a car robbery every year, totalling 55,000 thefts annually. With these statistics, it follows that sooner or later you or someone you know will be the one in trouble. 

Much of the car safety advice out there advocates protecting your own vehicle, even at the cost of others. Often they recommend having enough security features so that when your car is sitting next to another, it would be the more difficult to steal. It is an ‘every man for themselves’ approach. However this mindset does little to impact the overall rate of theft. Every individual pays the price when the rate of theft increases, through higher insurance premiums and justice systems demands. Perhaps most importantly, it perpetuates a theft culture, and normalises the act if it happens so often. Even if your car was not chosen as a target this time, a growing or steady culture means that it might be the victim next time. 

Perhaps because we perceive out country as a place of safety, we have become lax when it comes to car security. A shocking amount of thefts occur out of pure opportunity; when a person happens to walk past an unlocked vehicle, or sees an open window and a laptop inside. We need to stop taking our safety for granted, because this slack attitude is actually encouraging crime. 

Newer technologies allow for equally new ways of obtaining stolen vehicles. For examples, there is currently much debate over the possibility of electronic car hacking with a phone or tablet, where all of the functions of the car can be manipulated. Transponder keys which automatically unlock a vehicle as they approach can also be duplicated illegally to facilitate theft. No longer is car theft reduced to a coat hanger and a shifty look; it could go on in broad daylight without anyone noticing. While Australia is not yet at this level, it is a possibility if the theft culture is allowed to thrive. 

At the very least, take the basic precautions by installing high quality locks that resist tampering. A car alarm would not go astray. These simple measures, combined with some common sense parking and driving behaviour dramatically reduces the opportunity for theft. If these simple steps were performed by all car owners, the rate of theft would dramatically decline, and the chances of catching the culprits would improve. 

Chat to some informative locksmiths today in Melbourne from Expert Locksmiths at http://www.expertlocksmiths.com.au/ about how you can contribute to minimising car theft rates.