Think Before Giving Car Keys to Strangers
According to a recent YouGov survey, 43 per cent of motorists have left their car keys with strangers, such as car park attendants, garages and valets. Despite the security risks, 71 per cent of those drivers have never checked whether the company or individual that they gave their keys to were members of an accredited code of practice or other professional standard.
Whilst car theft has declined since the mid-1990s (from 620,000 to below 80,000), drivers should still be conscious of potential car thieves, and follow best practices for safeguarding their vehicles.
The following are five easy ways to safeguard your vehicle.
- Treat your car keys as you would your house keys. Before leaving your keys with a stranger, ask yourself whether he or she seems trustworthy.
- Think about where you park. Choose car parks with security cameras in well-lit and well-populated areas.
- Don’t leave valuables on display inside your vehicle.
- Never leave spare keys inside your vehicle.
- Don’t walk away from your car until you are sure that it is locked.