Most common items stolen from cars

How often do you leave your car and not even think about the valuables you could have on display? Are you guilty of leaving personal belongings in your vehicle? The most common items stolen from cars include Sat Navs and dash-cams, Sunglasses, Laptops, Mobile phones and License plates. Some thieves may not be out to steal your car but instead, what’s inside it. Help to deter thieves by thinking about the below valuables and keep them out of sight from potential thieves! 

1. Sat Nav and Dash Cams. 

Dash cams are becoming increasingly popular and can record footage whilst you’re driving. Dash cam footage can be used as evidence in the event of a crash or incident. Many people use them on every journey, and it can be easy to forget to remove them from your vehicle when you leave. Most dashcams are fitted to the dashboard or the windscreen, and just like Sat Navs, they can be easily on show for potential thieves. Remember to remove any gadgets before exiting the vehicle or hide them out of sight. 

2. Handbags. 

How many of us women are guilty of leaving a handbag in the car? Even if you’re still present in the vehicle, having your handbag on show can be attractive to thieves. Having your handbag on the passenger seat whilst you’re at a red light is enough time for a thief to strike. Always think about the placement of your belongings, even if you’re still in the vehicle and keep them out of sight if you can. Handbags are attractive to thieves because they usually contain purses, phones, and sunglasses, or the handbag itself may be a designer one. 

3. Laptops. 

Laptops and other electronics are high-value equipment. Travelling with a laptop, either to and from work or on your way to business meetings, can be easy to spot. If you’re on the road quite often, you might get lazy and forget to hide electronic items each time you’re in and out of the car. But, they can be easy to steal and easy for thieves to resell. Before you exit the vehicle, do a quick scan and make sure no valuables are on display. 

4. Sunglasses. 

Sunglasses are one of the items we think you should have in a car emergency kit because they enhance your visibility on sunny days and can protect your eyes from harmful UVs. They are often an item many of us have in our cars and often forget to hide away. It can be hard to tell if a pair of sunglasses are designer or not from peering through a window, so thieves may strike whether they’re a £3 pair of sunglasses or a £300 pair. Always put your sunglasses away in the glove box or take them with you when you leave the car. 

5. Wallets & Purses. 

Just like handbags, wallets and purses are often items we leave in our cars, but they’re also common items stolen from cars. Thieves may not know how much is in the wallet or purse, but they’re willing to find out. Stolen credit or debit cards can also be used by thieves through contactless payments. Remember to keep any valuables out of sight to prevent potential thieves. 

6. Mobile Phones. 

Using your mobile phone when driving is illegal, but that doesn’t mean many of us would be without our phones in the car. You can use your mobile phone as long as it’s hands-free, and this may include using it as a navigation. Having your phone on clear display can be a natural target for thieves. They can be easily resold and can quickly become untraceable. 

7. License Plates. 

The most common things stolen from cars don’t always have to be inside the vehicle, license plates can also be attractive to potential thieves. Usually, license plate fraud is used to disclose the identity of a stolen car. Thieves take your plates and put them on that of a stolen vehicle so it can go undetected. Standard license plate screws can be easily removed so if you’re worried about licence plate theft, you can invest in one-way security screws which make them harder to remove. 

8. Catalytic Converters. 

Catalytic converters are present in fuel-powered cars and aim to reduce harmful pollutants from the exhaust. If you invest in an electric car, you’ll not have to worry about contact converter theft. Thieves target these converters because they can be stolen in a matter of minutes, and they contain scrap metal that contains materials like rhodium, platinum and palladium. If you invest in an electric car, you’ll not need to worry about catalytic converter theft, as there is no tailpipe.

9. Tools. 

You’ll often see the signs ‘no tools let in this van overnight’ on many vehicles on the road, this is to help deter thieves away. Work vans or cars can be easy targets for thieves looking to steal expensive work tools. If you use your car for work and often carry tool, you could be a victim of theft. You should always ensure all tools are removed from a car or van before leaving the vehicle or ensure they are locked away and out of sight. 

10. Tyres. 

Did you know one of the most common stolen items from cars is actually the tyres? It may seem hard to steal a tyre, but it can actually be quite easy. Thieves could steal tyres in a matter of minutes! They’re hard to trace and make it easy for thieves to sell them on. If you’re worried about your tyres being stolen, you could consider parking your car with your wheels at a 45-degree angle to make it harder for them to be removed. 

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