Having your possessions stolen, whether that's a car, bike, or beloved pet, can be a frightening and isolating experience. The lasting impact of theft can be hugely damaging to an individual or household, but there are some steps you can follow to help protect your possessions, and reduce the risk of them being stolen.
Take a look at the top tips below, and click on the links to relevant pages on our website with further information.
Car crime and theft
Did you know, that in the UK, a car is stolen on average every ten minutes (ITV, 2020)? Whilst we can't always prevent it there are simple steps we can all take to reduce our chances of becoming a victim of car crime.
- Leave your car locked
A simple mistake that can prove calamitous: 44% of cars were broken into via an unlocked door.
- Leave your car well-lit
80% of car crime occurs during the evening or at night. Parking near street lamps or in a busy area can deter thieves.
- Leave your car empty
Owners often forget that personal belongings within the car are at as much risk of being stolen as the car itself.
Read more top tips on this page!
Bike theft
- Register your bike for free with Bike Register, the UK’s only police-approved cycle database. This will help police to find it if it gets stolen.
- Take a photo of your bike and keep it with the insurance details. Make a note of the make, model and serial number.
- When parking away from home make sure your bike is locked to a heavy-duty piece of street furniture and where possible with the lock or chain off the floor; and leave it in a well-lit place ideally with CCTV
- Make sure the lock you use is independently tested (e.g. Sold Secure approved), the correct size and difficult for thieves to access to break it.
Read more top tips for protecting your bike from theft, and reporting if it's stolen, on this page!
Pet theft
Dog owners are increasingly concerned about their dogs being stolen from them. We are urging the public to keep their dogs SECURE, IN SIGHT and SEARCHABLE. DogLost, a UK charity that helps victims of dog theft, recorded a 170% increase in the crime, from 172 dogs reported stolen in 2019 to 465 dogs in 2020.
According to a survey conducted by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne in partnership with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, 27,440 people (22% of the 124,729 people who responded) have had a dog stolen or knew someone who had over the last year.
79% of people to whom the question was applicable said they had grown more fearful of taking their dog for a walk during the day and an even greater number, 83%, have grown more fearful of taking their dog for a walk at night.
To help keep your dog safe we have pulled together some top tips on how to keep your dog SECURE, IN SIGHT AND SEARCHABLE and reduce your chances of becoming a victim of dog theft.