Keep your vehicle safe

Follow the tips below to help prevent your vehicle from being broken into, damaged or stolen:

  • Always lock your vehicle
  • Remove the ignition key, even when the vehicle is parked only for a short time
  • Always keep your keys safe - one of the most common causes of vehicle theft is keys being stolen from people’s homes or bags
  • Never leave anything on display in your vehicle. A thief will not know whether a coat or bag does not contain valuables
  • Never keep your vehicle documents in the vehicle as these could help a thief in selling your vehicle
  • Park your vehicle in places that are well lit and overlooked. Use car parks that are well lit, tidy and have security e.g. Selborne Walk
  • Use security devices such as an alarm or steering lock
  • Older cars are far more likely to be stolen than modern cars. If your car does not have a vehicle immobiliser then fit a steering lock
  • Removable stereos should be removed from the vehicle
  • Use tamper proof screws, adhesive or non removable plates to prevent this kind of theft

Top item stolen from vehicles in Waltham Forest are stereos, number plates and mobile phones.

Reducing vehicle crime in Waltham Forest

The following steps are being taken to help reduce vehicle crime in the borough

  • To prevent the theft of disabled parking badges residents are encouraged to use badge protectors which are on sale at the parking shop
  • Steering locks are available to residents with older cars through their local Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

Safer car parks

Work is being carried out in partnership with businesses in the borough to achieve the Metropolitan Police Park Mark status for car parks in Waltham Forest so as to ensure that these areas are safe places for people and their vehicles.

The following car parks have Parkmark accreditation:

  • Bedford Road car park
  • Brandon Road car park
  • Garfield Road car park
  • Leyton Mills Retail Park
  • Linford Road (North)
  • Palmerston Road  
  • Richmond Road car park
  • South Grove car park
  • The Mall Walthamstow

Keep your bicycle safe

  • Always lock your bicycle when you leave it
  • Avoid leaving your bike in isolated places. Leave where the public can see it, however try not to leave on public display for long periods- even if locked properly
  • Use a bike stand or shed if there is one available
  • Lock your bicycle through the frame using two ‘sold secure ‘ approved security devices
  • Secure or remove wheels - secure removable parts; lock both the wheels and the frame together and remove smaller parts and accessories that cannot be secured
  • Lock your bike to an immovable object, such as a bike rack or ground anchors. Thieves can remove drainpipes and lift bikes off signposts
  • Make the lock and bike hard to manoeuvre when parked.  Stop thieves smashing it open by keeping the lock away from the ground.  Keep the gap between bike and lock small
  • Take out insurance on your bike, either by extending your home contents insurance or by creating a separate policy. Cycling organisations and bike shops may offer specialist cover
  • Security mark the frame
  • Take a photograph of your cycle and keep it safe
  • Make a note of the serial number, make and model and keep it with the photograph of the cycle

You can register your bicycle model, make and frame number at www.immobilise.com, this will help the police to recover your bike if it's stolen. For security products visit www.soldsecure.com or call 01327 264687.

Cycle parking

Cycle parking is available in the borough, this currently ranges from simple Sheffield-type stands to lockers and a secure bike shed using an electronic smartcard system offering individual bike security. Visit cycle parking for more information.

Contact us

Community Safety (Acquisitive Crime)
London Borough of Waltham Forest
2nd Floor, Cedar Wood House
2d Fulbourne Road
Walthamstow E17 4GG

Email communitysafety@walthamforest.gov.uk
Tel 020 8496 3000