What are the most effective anti-theft devices to stop my car from being stolen?

My next car will be kept on the drive at night. From a security point of view are some makes of car less prone to being stolen? Also, what are the most effective security measures/devices that can be applied/fitted by the owner?
If your car has keyless entry and keyless ignition, it will be far more vulnerable to thieves. In keyless theft, one person stands near the house with a relay device to amplify the signal from the keyfob in your home. This signal is extended and is then picked up by a transmitter near your car (which is why it's often a two-man job). This basically tricks your car into thinking the key is present because. Thieves can then enter the car, start the ignition and drive away if you have keyless ignition - if not, they can steal whatever is inside the car. Faraday bags are a good preventative measure, they work by blocking electromagnetic fields. This stops radio frequencies from being amplified, all you have to do is put your key in the little bag. We recommend this one (amzn.to/2WzCkVi) - which we've reviewed here: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-monojoy-keyles.../

If you want a more physical solution to put your mind at ease, I'd take a read of our steering lock reviews. We've tested both the Stoplock Pro (kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/stoplock-pro-review/) and Disklok (kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-disklok-steeri.../). If you don't want to pay anything, you can actually just put your keys in a tin with a sealed lid and that sometimes stops the signal being picked up. It's very easy to test, simply put your key in a tin (like an empty biscuit tin) and then walk out to your car. If it doesn't unlock when you're close by then it isn't picking up the signal.

Alternatively, you can buy a security post (amzn.to/2J3Vv6s) or a vehicle tracker like the Rewire Security Nano Tracker we've reviewed, which also recently won our Car Security Award: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-spytrack-nano-.../

For a pricier solution, I'd look into something like the Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser. The Ghost uses the buttons in your vehicle, like those on the steering wheel, doors and centre console, to allow you to make a unique PIN sequence that must be entered in order to start the car. There's also an iPhone app that connects to your vehicle and allows you to get in and drive without having to enter the PIN.
Answered by Georgia Petrie on

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