News from MCM - Article 105

Key Security and Vehicle Theft

Introduction: The provision of better locks, alarms and immobilisers in new vehicles has greatly improved their security. However, with vehicles becoming harder to break into or steal, thieves are now paying greater attention to theft of vehicle keys - an essential precursor to easy theft of a vehicle.

Whether as an owner or driver, those in charge of vehicles need to be aware of the risk of vehicle theft; and in particular the need to adopt suitable security measures for keys.

Vehicles At Home

Vehicle theft at home often occurs because keys have been left in unattended vehicles, or kept in locations accessible to thieves.

To reduce risk drivers should:

• Always remove keys and lock a vehicle when it is unattended.
• Not leave a vehicle unattended and running to 'warm up/defrost'. Note: Security risk aside, this is an illegal act on a public highway.
• Not leave keys within sight or reach of windows in the home, as 'smash and grab' theft only takes seconds.
• Not leave keys in the home where they could be 'fished out' through a letterbox, e.g. by using a hook/magnet on a stick.

Vehicles in Use

High value vehicles can be targeted for theft whilst in use, in one of two ways.

Car Jacking

Here thieves use the element of surprise to evict the driver before making off with the vehicle. Two methods being used are:

• As a vehicle slows/stops at a traffic junction or parking area, etc, thieves approach, open an un-locked door and forcibly evict the driver before driving off.
• A vehicle is followed to a quiet location, e.g. car park, rural road or home address and caused to stop, e.g. by flashing car headlights or bumping into it. Once stationary, the driver is forcibly evicted. Vehicles with a lone driver, especially women and the elderly, are often thieves preferred target.

To reduce risk drivers should:

• Keep doors locked when driving
• Be aware of persons loitering at the side of the road.
• Choose a safe place when parking, then lock and leave the vehicle swiftly.
• If being pursued, either call the police on a mobile phone or drive to a police station or a busy well-lit location before stopping - perhaps sounding the car horn to attract attention.

To reduce risk owners should:

• Consider fitting high value/high risk vehicles with tracking devices.
• Displaying deterrent signs warning of the presence of tracking devices.

Temporarily Unattended Vehicles

Theft of a vehicle can occur when the driver has temporarily left to undertake other tasks.

To reduce risk drivers should:

• Always remove keys and lock a vehicle whenever it is left unattended.
• Always remove keys if leaving the driver's seat to operate different parts of a vehicle, e.g. a lorry tailgate or rear doors. Note: Putting all keys required to operate different parts of a vehicle onto a single tamper proof (sealed) key ring can force drivers to do this.

Vehicles at Commercial Premises

Vehicle dealers, garages and depots, etc, are particularly attractive to thieves, due to their concentration of vehicles and the many opportunities for acquiring vehicle keys.

Employees

Employees may lose keys through lack of care or, in collusion with thieves, be 'persuaded' to pass keys or spares to them.

To reduce risk businesses should:

• Ensure records are kept of all keys
• Ensure key issue/return is signed for, or a key cabinet tracking system is used.

Theft during Business Hours

Sneak thieves often target premises during business hours, aiming to steal identifiable keys from unattended areas or vehicles.

To reduce risk businesses should:

• Create a key code list and use numbers or simple codes to label keys rather than registration numbers/personal details.
• Keep key code lists separately from the vehicle keys to which they relate.
• Not store keys in areas that may be unattended during the working day.
• Store keys in a locked key security cabinet (those with slam door locks make locking easier after every use).
• Ensure employees do not leave keys in unattended vehicles at any time.

Fraud during Business Hours

Thieves posing as prospective purchasers can be a problem, as a balance has to be struck between maintaining security of keys and discouraging legitimate buyers.

A fraudster will either seek unaccompanied test drives, or free access to keys in order that one can be stolen or substituted - with a view to returning later to steal the vehicle.

To reduce risk businesses should:

• Not release keys for unaccompanied viewing of vehicles.
• Not allow unaccompanied test-drives by unknown persons unless originals of adequate identification, e.g. a driving licence and/or photo ID are produced and temporarily retained. Ideally, temporary custody of their vehicle and its keys should be sought, but do not assume that someone prepared to leave a vehicle with you will return - it could itself be stolen!
• Ensure that keys likely to be handled by prospective customers are kept on a tamper proof (sealed) key ring.

Theft outside Business Hours

Many premises have some physical security measures in place to prevent vehicle theft, e.g. walls, gates, ram posts, wheel clamps etc, and/or they seek to hinder access by parking low value vehicles across doorways, gates or other entrances.

Many will also back this up with manned guarding or a remotely monitored CCTV or intruder alarm system, as these enable someone to be alerted to attempted theft. However, even with such measures in place key security remains important; as easy access to keys will not only allow thieves to quickly remove a target vehicle, but may also allow them to move others to create exit routes or ram raid physical barriers.

To reduce risk businesses should:

• Remove all keys from site.
• Keep keys in a security safe or a heavy-duty key cabinet fixed to a solid wall and, where an alarm or CCTV system is installed, located within their coverage.
• Remove from site all keys to key cabinets or key safes.
• Remove key code lists from site or store them securely away from any keys.
• Remove from site all keys for security devices, e.g. wheel clamps, gates, ram posts, etc or store them securely.

Vehicles Collected or Returned Outside Business Hours

Vehicles left at premises outside business hours are always vulnerable to theft, and especially so if keys are possibly available to thieves. For example when they are 'hidden' under a wheel arch, or posted through a letterbox where they are then vulnerable to being 'fished out', or having adjacent glazing smashed to obtain them.

To reduce risk businesses should:

• Avoid key collection or return outside normal working hours.
• Ensure key return is via an external non return drawer/deposit system into an internal key safe. Such safes should be fitted to or within a solid masonry wall and, where an alarm or CCTV system is installed, located within their coverage.

Key Action Steps

• Review vehicle key use and storage.
• Ensure drivers are aware of the risks, both at and away from work.
• Ensure drivers are observing any security rules and procedures.
• Review security promptly after any loss.

December 2009