I’m sure you don’t need us to tell you, but car crime remains a persistent issue across the UK, with Essex in the south-west of the country being no exception.
The region’s proximity to London, its extensive road networks, and a mix of urban and rural landscapes create unique challenges for the car owners and the Police alike.
Vehicle theft and associated crimes are not only costly, but also incredibly distressing for victims, highlighting the need for robust security measures and community vigilance.
With hotspots continuing to emerge in densely populated or economically active areas, understanding the latest trends and implementing preventative strategies has never been more important to counter the scourge of car theft.
If you live or work in and around Essex, then it’s time to take control of your vehicle security and we’re here to help.
The Only Way (To Car Security) Is Essex
If you look at the country as a whole, Essex has seen a mixed picture regarding car crime, with hotspots persisting despite efforts by law enforcement.
Latest figures highlight a concentration of vehicle-related offences in areas like West Thurrock (those with RM20 and RM19 postcodes), Romford, Basildon and Southend-on-Sea, where crime rates reach up to 581 incidents per 10,000 vehicles.
These areas face a blend of theft from vehicles and outright car thefts, with luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz being frequent targets
Conversely, northern Essex areas such as Frinton-on-Sea and Saffron Walden remain among the safest, with crime rates as low as 40 per 10,000 vehicles
Overall, Essex ranks among the higher-risk counties for vehicle crime, with a rate of 7.2 per 1,000 people in 2024 (year to date).
Efforts by Essex Police, particularly focusing on organised crime, have contributed to a 9.1% reduction in vehicle crime over the past year.
This includes initiatives like targeting so-called ‘chop shops’ (i.e. illegal garages that dismantle stolen vehicles for parts) and improving vehicle recovery systems like many of those we sell in our store.
Thankfully October 2024 saw a notable 14.3% decline in car crime compared to the previous year, but there are still plenty of things you can do to protect yourself.
How to Protect Yourself
Naturally, we don’t want you to be a victim of car crime of any kind, so we wanted to offer some practical tips on how to protect yourself and your precious car, motorbike, van or motorhome.
- Lock It Up – Always lock your vehicle and double-check before leaving, even if you’re stepping away briefly. It’s easy to take it for granted if your car locks automatically when walking away, so please be sure it’s secure before leaving the area.
- Safeguard Your Keys: Use signal-blocking (aka Faraday) pouches or boxes for keyless entry systems to thwart relay attacks. Store your keys away from windows and doors to prevent the risk of a relay attack.
- Remove Temptations: It might sound obvious but many thefts from cars aren’t planned in advance, so keep valuables out of sight to deter those opportunistic thieves.
- Park Securely: When leaving your car parked for any period of time, always use well-lit, busy areas or secure garages where possible to deter thieves who prefer dark, quiet areas where the chance of being caught is minimised.
- Physical Deterrents: Consider steering wheel locks, immobilisers, or parking posts to make theft more difficult. Any visual deterrent will increase the time it takes to steal a car so thieves will think twice about a car with visual protection.
Enhanced Security Measures
Whilst these practical tips can help everyone, not everyone is the same. Car security often requires us to go above and beyond the practical and employ some more cutting-edge technologies to keep our vehicles safe.
- Vehicle Trackers – It probably won’t come as a great shock that we recommend the installation of a car tracker but installing a GPS-based vehicle tracker allows recovery teams and police to locate stolen cars quickly. You can check out our entire range here. We have car trackers to suit every vehicle, every budget and every circumstance from the top of the range S5 and S5+ trackers to the more budget friendly S7 systems.
- Dash Cameras: Dashboard cameras are increasingly a must-have accessory for every driver. Using the latest technology with a range of cutting-edge features, our dashcams record your journeys to pick up footage of traffic accidents as well as theft and vandalism. See our full range here.
- Immobiliser: If you’re not looking to buy an S5+ tracker that comes with immobilisation, you can check out our range of stand-alone immobilisers, which are a great solution to securing your vehicle. Immobilisers can be an alternative to a tracking system, offering a highly-effective way of guarding your vehicle against modern theft methods, such as key cloning, relay theft and OBD hacking.
Moving Forward
While hotspots persist in Essex, as they do across the UK, a combined approach of individual security upgrades, community action and police operations is making areas like these increasingly inhospitable for vehicle criminals and that can’t be a bad thing.
By adopting preventive measures like these and staying vigilant, we can can contribute to the ongoing reduction in vehicle crime no matter where you live.
Whether you live in Essex or not, we can help keep your vehicle secure. Just give our dedicated customer service team a ring on 0330 043 3993, we’re available Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm to give you all the help and advice you might need when it comes find the best tracker, dash cam or immobiliser for you. Don’t forget installation is available UK-wide at a time and place to suit you.
