Car Alarms - Car Security

In Japan car crime is not nearly at the same level as it is in the UK. This means that many imported cars do not have car alarms or immobilisers fitted, no matter how much has been spent on the rest of the car. Alarms can be an effective deterrent to both car theft and theft from your vehicle, and electronic or physical immobilisers are highly effective as they can prevent the car from being easily moved.

Thatcham has been testing and approving vehicle security systems since 1992 giving a category to those that pass their tests.

Thatcham Category 1
Cat 1 car alarms incorporate a multi circuit immobiliser. The more circuits there are the harder it will be to find out what has been immobilised and how to get around it. The immobiliser will automatically arm when you leave the car, an anti-grab key-code system and a battery backed-up siren.

Thatcham Category 2
A Cat2 security device is an engine immobiliser.

Fitting has a lot to do with the reliability and the security of your car. A Vehicle Systems Installation Board (VSIB) approved installer, or professional installer will go that extra length to ensure the system is installed correctly and securely.

Thatcham Category 3
Cat 3 devices are physical devices, including steering wheel locks such as Diskloks. These provide a high visibility deterrant as well as being a pain for would be car thieves.

Of course once equipped with one or all of these items such as alloy wheels whould not be over looked. A set of quality alloy wheel locking nuts such as McGard should cost around £25 put are well worth it.

Many car alarms, such as Clifford, are modular allowing additional sensors to be added. Proximity sensors detect if someone is standing close to your car, motion and tilt sensors can tell whether the car is being jacked up and will sound the alarm.

For further security consider security film for the glass. This makes the glass very tough to break, even repeatedly throwing a brick at the glass, preventing the opportunist easily smashing and grabbing anything that may have been left on display.

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