A simple wing mirror error could act as a sign to thieves that your car is ripe to be stolen or riffled through for valuables. Vehicles left unattended without wing mirrors folded in could indicate it has been left unlocked, the AA and police have said.
People who have been convicted of stealing from cars have spoken to university researchers to explain how they looked out for expensive cars with wing mirrors sticking out, the Telegraph reported. Unlocked cars mean thieves don't have to worry about any security devices and can steal any valuables left inside.
Jack Cousens, the head of roads policy at the AA, said: “Looking out for modern cars without their wing mirrors folded in is quite a cheeky trick for thieves. Sometimes the simplest thing is the biggest giveaway and, while wing mirrors will just blend into the background for passers-by and car owners, open mirrors must stand out like a sore thumb to the miscreants.
“If that wasn’t enough, drivers often just press the buttons on the key fob and trust the airwaves that their car has been locked. However, thieves have now got their hands on signal blocking technology allowing them to intercept the request from the key, meaning drivers walk away unknowingly leaving the car unlocked.
“Waiting an extra five seconds to check the mirrors and handle is all that’s needed to ensure the car is locked before walking away.” It means thieves don't have to try car door handles to see if the vehicle is unlocked.
Former police officer Kevin Floyd, a criminologist at Huddersfield University, has interviewed convicted car thieves in prison. He told the Telegraph: “With modern cars nowadays, open wing mirrors equate in the thief’s mind with an open door. It’s as simple as that. It’s a green flag."
Jenny Sims, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead on car crime, told The Telegraph that Office for National Statistics figures show had been a 22 per cent increase in the theft of vehicles from around 90,000 to nearly 110,000 in the last year.
“Locking your vehicle, even when filling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted by an opportunist thief. Even if you have locked your vehicle, check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open,” she said.
“Vehicles today are by and large more difficult to steal than ever, unless the thief can access your key or fob to clone them. Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home, and away from your front door.”
