Simple wing mirror trick to deter would-be car thieves

"Any step that can get a crook looking elsewhere is always worth considering"

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Drivers have been urged to adopt a little-known trick to stop their vehicles being targeted by criminals. Motoring expert Graham Conway says the simple step should put off would-be thieves on the prowl - and it's all to do with wing mirrors.

Car thefts shot up 29 per cent in the 12 months to last September, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics. The ONS stats revealed that 72,000 vehicles were swiped between September 2021 and the same time last year.

Mr Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, said: "Much like fitting a burglar alarm and CCTV cameras to your house, any step that can get a crook looking elsewhere is always worth considering. And when it comes to cars there are some tell-tale signs that these horrible people use to narrow the field for motors they could steal.

“One of the main ones is seeing if the wing mirrors are folded in, as many models do this automatically when they are locked via the key fob. If your car doesn’t have this feature it’s worth spending a few seconds bending each mirror inwards to make it look like it does and therefore fooling the criminals.

“It might just stop the criminal from peering inside your vehicle to see if it’s locked in the first place."

The data also highlighted a 14 per cent rise in all vehicle-related crime - including thefts of items such as phones and wallets from cars and vans - with 391,613 in the same time frame. The Ford Fiesta, Range Rover and Ford Focus were the most stolen models.

Experts point to the shortage in parts and new vehicles leading to thieves targeting more mainstream models than usual. And aside from the wing mirrors, there are plenty of other ways to keep your vehicle safe.

Select Car Leasing’s Mr Conway added: “The car theft racket is becoming increasingly more sophisticated, with gangs using keyless technology to target motors often from people’s driveways. But there are still plenty of instances of opportunistic crooks trying car doors and smashing windows to gain access or steal what’s inside.

“The best advice is to invest in some security measures, such as alarms and steering wheel locks. CCTV covering your driveway can help, as can adding a telescopic bollard or post to your drive to prevent your vehicle being whisked away by thieves.

"Always keep your car keys away from the front door and out of sight, as these gangs sometimes use relay box technology to trick the fob into unlocking the vehicle. But the best advice is to always check your car is locked when you leave it anywhere, and employ the wing mirror trick to reduce the chances of thieves picking out your vehicle."