Accessory after...
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Crime, like the poor, will always be with us! It is a disturbing fact that it is constantly on the increase and the criminal's age range is decreasing. Young people for a variety of reasons break into vehicles or "take them away without consent" every day.
Every responsible operator knows that goods in transit insurance is an operating cost which must be carried. They also recognise the advantage of vehicle and load protection. However, while they pay the insurance premium with reluctance, they show markedly less enthusiasm for physical deterrents.
Steering locks, fuel cut-offs, audible alarms, additional door locks, are all readily available. But in relative terms they are not in great demand.
For less than £500, a vehicle can be adequately alarmed and in pence-per-mile terms over the life of the vehicle, that is infinitesimal. It is surely also an attractive selling point.
We invited some of the leading alarm suppliers to have their equipment put to the test. They showed as much reluctance to the idea as potential customers show to their products.
It seems that, like fire protection, vehicle security only becomes important after the act. It should not be regarded as an accessory but as a vital component in the business.