This way your car's mirror can signal to thieves that it is unlocked
Do you have a modern car with an electric folding side mirror?
It turns out that the thieves know by this mirror whether the vehicle is locked or not.
And also: what else you need to watch out for - and how to minimize the chance that your car will be stolen
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30/08/2022
Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 00:06 Updated: 00:13
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Car thieves came up with an easy and quick method to break into advanced vehicles (CCTV/security cameras)
Does your vehicle have electronic side mirrors?
It is possible that they can be used as a "green flag" for car thieves and signal to them that these are unlocked vehicles and should be broken into.
Convicted and experienced car thieves said they look for modern cars with side mirrors that are not folded in, which for them is a sign that the car is unlocked.
Kevin Floyd, a former police inspector and criminologist at Huddersfield College - who has interviewed car thieves - told The Telegraph that most car thieves flag down lazy drivers who forget to lock the car, even if they have valuables inside.
Such cars are perfect "prey" for the thieves who easily disable the alarm and other security mechanisms that the car giants have spent tens of millions developing.
Side mirror not folded?
This is a prominent sign for thieves (Photo: ShutterStock, Damix)
Floyd explained: "With today's modern vehicles, open side mirrors are like an open door to thieves. Just like that, it's a green flag. They don't want to try to break the door because it's very sensitive and will set off the alarm, but if the mirror is open and not folded down - that's A sign that the car is not locked and the alarm will not work."
He added: "The thieves get into the car and pretend they own it. They look around and just drive away without noticing that they have stolen the car. Another basic mistake people make is leaving valuables in the car. People can leave, for example, house keys and a letter with their address inside ".
Jenny Sims, a police officer in charge of the area of car theft, said: "Lock your car. Even when you stop for a few minutes. This significantly reduces the chance that your car will be a target for thieves. Even if you have locked your car, check that you have not left any windows open. Thieves have learned to trust unfolded mirrors - therefore waiting an extra five seconds to check that the mirrors have been folded is all that is needed to assure yourself that the vehicle is locked."
Sims also urged people to keep their car keys away from windows or doors at home and in a secure place.
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