Number of car thefts falls thanks to technology aid
03 Mar 2015|2,584 views
The number of cars stolen here has plummeted over the past five years, a trend that experts attribute to greater video surveillance and more advanced car security systems, reported The Straits Times.
The latest statistics from police show that 21 cars were stolen last year out of 316 motor vehicles, which include motorcycles and commercial vehicles such as lorries. In 2010, 85 cars were stolen, or roughly one every four days. More than three times as many motor vehicles - 987 in all - were stolen.
Since then, the figures have shown a steady and consistent decline. The police said the drop could be due to a multitude of factors, but declined to elaborate.
Singapore Safety Driving Centre operations manager Gerard Pereira said the prevalence of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras both in cars and carparks was probably a major deterrent. "The police have installed all these CCTV cameras at multi-storey car parks to deter 'ah longs' (loan sharks), but maybe car thieves now know they are being watched," he said.
Since May 2012, 18,000 cameras have been installed in more than 3,300 Housing Board blocks and multi-storey car parks under the Community Policing System. These electronic eyes will be installed in all 10,000 HDB blocks and multi-storey car parks by next year.
Mr. Soon Sheng Quan, who runs car workshop Advance Auto Sound, said advances in car security systems could be another reason for the falling numbers. "Nowadays, many cars come with immobilisers, which recognise only the car's specific remote. Without it, you cannot enter the car or start the engine," he said.
Mr. Soon added that manufacturers started installing these security devices in cars four to five years ago to prevent them from being 'hot-wired', which refers to thieves starting the car's engine using ignition wires.
But even as theft rates fall, experts cautioned that drivers should still remain vigilant - especially if they drive across the Causeway.
Car Track Singapore, which installs tracking devices in cars, cited the case of a customer whose car was stolen in broad daylight while he was eating at a hawker centre in Johor Baru two years ago. The company later tracked the car to an auto workshop that had its shutters drawn.
Mr. Pereira encouraged drivers to install alarms and use devices such as steering-wheel locks. "It is not a 100 percent guarantee, but if a car thief sees your steering wheel locked, he might move on to the next car," he said.
The number of cars stolen here has plummeted over the past five years, a trend that experts attribute to greater video surveillance and more advanced car security systems, reported The Straits Times.
The latest statistics from police show that 21 cars were stolen last year out of 316 motor vehicles, which include motorcycles and commercial vehicles such as lorries. In 2010, 85 cars were stolen, or roughly one every four days. More than three times as many motor vehicles - 987 in all - were stolen.
Since then, the figures have shown a steady and consistent decline. The police said the drop could be due to a multitude of factors, but declined to elaborate.
Singapore Safety Driving Centre operations manager Gerard Pereira said the prevalence of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras both in cars and carparks was probably a major deterrent. "The police have installed all these CCTV cameras at multi-storey car parks to deter 'ah longs' (loan sharks), but maybe car thieves now know they are being watched," he said.
Since May 2012, 18,000 cameras have been installed in more than 3,300 Housing Board blocks and multi-storey car parks under the Community Policing System. These electronic eyes will be installed in all 10,000 HDB blocks and multi-storey car parks by next year.
Mr. Soon Sheng Quan, who runs car workshop Advance Auto Sound, said advances in car security systems could be another reason for the falling numbers. "Nowadays, many cars come with immobilisers, which recognise only the car's specific remote. Without it, you cannot enter the car or start the engine," he said.
Mr. Soon added that manufacturers started installing these security devices in cars four to five years ago to prevent them from being 'hot-wired', which refers to thieves starting the car's engine using ignition wires.
But even as theft rates fall, experts cautioned that drivers should still remain vigilant - especially if they drive across the Causeway.
Car Track Singapore, which installs tracking devices in cars, cited the case of a customer whose car was stolen in broad daylight while he was eating at a hawker centre in Johor Baru two years ago. The company later tracked the car to an auto workshop that had its shutters drawn.
Mr. Pereira encouraged drivers to install alarms and use devices such as steering-wheel locks. "It is not a 100 percent guarantee, but if a car thief sees your steering wheel locked, he might move on to the next car," he said.
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