According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), cases of vehicle-related crimes in England and Wales have significantly declined over the past few decades. While this is comforting news for car owners and a broad recognition of the improved security measures included as standard in new vehicles, we should remember that car thieves have not stopped operating.
It is therefore important not to become casual about vehicle security and run the risk of becoming a statistic ourselves. With that in mind, the following seven points are our top recommendations for improving car security.
1. Lock your car
This advice may seem obvious but ONS crime figures show that car owners consistently forget to apply this most basic security feature. Almost half of all vehicle-related thefts are because thieves had gained access through an unlocked door.
Get in the habit of always locking up, even if you will only be away from the car for a few seconds. Don’t solely rely on a quick press of the key fob either: check for audible or visual signals that the car has actually locked before you walk away. And if your Lexus has door mirrors that can automatically fold in when the car is locked, be sure to activate this feature – potential thieves recognise it is a clear visual sign of a locked car.
2. Keep valuables out of sight
Opportunist thieves are often looking for easy-to-grab valuables that have been left on display. Police report that items such as jewellery, bags, purses and wallets, cash, credit cards, clothes and documents are the most commonly stolen in vehicle-related crimes.
Reduce this risk by stashing valuables out of sight, such as in the glove box or boot. Better still, take those items away with you. And if you’re going to leave the car for a longer period of time, consider clearing the boot entirely and removing the parcel shelf or load cover to show thieves that there is nothing to steal.
3. Be mindful of signals
Most modern Lexus models are equipped with a keyless entry and start system – a convenience which sends a constant signal from the key fob in order to unlock the vehicle’s doors and de-activate the immobiliser as you approach. Although it is possible for tech-savvy thieves with special equipment to hijack this signal, they must be in close proximity to the key or vehicle.
So if you doubt the intentions of anybody in the immediate vicinity of your vehicle, wait for them to leave before approaching the car. Better still, whenever you are not driving, block the signal from the key by keeping it in a metal box or Faraday pouch. This is equally important at home as thieves can use a ‘daisy chain’ of receivers to relay the signal from the key (which is probably kept near the front door) to open the car.
4. Secure your port
Every new car sold in the UK since 2003 has been equipped with an on-board diagnostic port. Abbreviated to OBD, this port is a computer connection that allows the car to communicate messages about its mechanical health to an authorised technician. Unfortunately, thieves have discovered that with special equipment they can use this OBD port to programme blank keys to work with the car.
For this reason, some owners choose to secure their OBD port with an aftermarket lock. Typically, this can either be a lockable metal box that covers the port itself, or an electronic lock that works alongside the original immobiliser to disable the port when the ignition is off.
5. Protect your cat
Your catalytic converter, that is. The ‘cat’ forms part of your car’s emissions control system and cleans exhaust gases before they are expelled through the tailpipe. Unfortunately, the precious metals inside the cat that help to neutralise these passing gases are exactly that – precious. Which means that the catalytic converter itself has become a target for thieves.
Lexus UK has taken action to deter thieves by issuing thousands of SmartWater invisible marking kits to local initiatives, as well as providing Lexus customers with a free SmartWater forensic marking service at their local centre. Lexus has also developed a mechanical locking device to deter would-be thieves. These measures are explained in more detail in our dedicated article on catalytic converter theft.
6. Park with care
Thieves do not like performing in front of an audience, so the place where you park has a bearing on the vehicle’s vulnerability. ONS statistics show that the likelihood of experiencing a car-related crime is much lower in busy, town centre parking areas. This is especially true when car parks are well-lit and have manned or CCTV security coverage.
Similarly, the time at which you park your car has a bearing on its security. Most instances of car-related crimes occur in the early hours of the morning, so avoid leaving in your car in a dark, unfamiliar area overnight.
7. Extra security
Modern vehicles invariably come with a high level of built-in security – the specific features of which are usually designed to react in the event of an incident. But there are simple things you can do to actively dissuade a thief from pursuing an attack on your car. These precautions include:
- Using a brightly coloured mechanical device locked across the steering wheel, gear lever or clutch pedal will provide an excellent visual deterrent to a would-be thief. A well-known steering wheel ‘crook lock’ “Stop Lock Pro Elite” is what Lexus would advise fitting to models, particularly RX, NX and UX (other brands of steering wheel locks are available to purchase should you wish).
- We may be living in a digital age but nothing will persuade an opportunist to leave your car alone more effectively than a good old-fashioned piece of ironmongery. Or for that matter, a snarling dog.
More information on preventing car crime can be found by visiting the Police UK website – www.police.uk – and by searching ‘car crime’.
It is frustrating that the response from Lexus is to always refer you to their Customer Relations Team!!! Is it not the same organization? If this team is not able to adequately resolve complaints and issues then what is the point of contacting them?
Hello Olivia, thanks for your comment.
Our Customer Relations team are best placed to handle any serious or in-depth queries from customers. This is because the team are specialists in handling these types of enquiries and many people need to provide sensitive information which cannot be shared here on the mag. However, our mag team do aim to provide you with as much information as possible.
Please let us know if you have any other queries.
Thanks.
Attempted theft of my 2019 ES300h last week at 0200, alarm went off , camera captured the person running off. Front bumper prised away on left side and cable from left headlight protruding. Have managed to put cable back in to headlight – was tricky pulling through gap – seems to me an easy fix for Lexus to put a washer or “sleeve” over the cable which will prevent it being pulled through- or even a cable tie! I have just wrapped a piece of coat hanger wire around and it’s going nowhere however hard they try to pull. Now have to try and push back bumper but the piece to screw onto metal body is broken and the metal is twisted! Hope I don’t need a new bumper!!!
I have an ES arriving mid-January and it really worries me reading these posts. There are similar theft experiences for ES owners on the Lexus Owners Forum. I contacted my dealer on the subject and they said it was the RX450 that had issues. Is the ES just as likely to be stolen or will a 2024 car have improved security from theft?
Hello Barry, thanks for getting in touch.
Modern vehicles invariably come with a high level of built-in security but as with any model in our range, we would always recommend extra measures to protect your car from theft.
Your local Lexus Centre are on hand to discuss extra means available for your car: https://fal.cn/3wm1G.
We would recommend re-contacting your centre to discuss protective measures.
Thanks.
I think this is now a massive problem for Lexus. My ES was stolen from my driveway in the early hours of Tuesday morning, it took the thieves less than five minutes to drive the car away. I always deactivate the key when leaving my car overnight.
Insurance costs will be going through the roof for Lexus cars, and until now have been really happy with it.
Apparently there is extra security to help prevent Canbus theft implemented on the fourth gen, RX but nothing for the ES.
Why.
Can you please confirm if the LC500 (pre 2021) is also as easily stolen via the canbus attack via the wheel arch? If so what can I do to prevent it (please don’t say a steering wheel lock which will just be taken off with a simple cut to the steering wheel).
I plan on taking my car on road trips around the UK and Europe and hope to find it where I left it. Or at least if taken illegally, done so with less than 120 seconds required to do so, and without the keys.
Hello Saphiro, thanks for your comment.
Modern vehicles invariably come with a high level of built-in security but as with any model in our range, we would always recommend extra measures to protect your car from theft.
Your local Lexus Centre are on hand to discuss extra means available for your car: https://fal.cn/3wm1G.
Thanks.
Reading the press and the Lexus Owners Club Forum it appears that Lexus is experiencing a serious theft problem involving the ES, RX and latterly the LC. Apart from the distress and worry, a knock on effect is that they are becoming much more expensive to insure, with Lexus own insurance refusing cover in some cases – if that’s not an admission of a failure for owners, what is? And how many sales are now being lost and what’s this doing to the confidence in the brand?
I own two of these vehicles, an RX and an LC. My question to Lexus is what are you doing about this theft pandemic? Please don’t post a standard answer, speak to your local center (who are strangely unaware of the problem), fit extra security, etc., people reading this are not stupid, they buy Lexus for goodness sake, or are thinking about it! Land Rover have grabbed the bull by the horns and are offering upgrades to their vehicles and recently announced an owners insurance scheme. Come on Lexus, let’s have some real action, not just a steel plate for the RX which isn’t even being publicised (because there aren’t enough to go round?).
I have the MY 22 ES 300h. It recently went in for it’s second service, when l had the opportunity to ask the service department staff if Lexus have any plans to address the theft vulnerability of this model, only to be told ‘they will have to do something soon’ as we are getting lots of complaints. Is this something that Lexus as a brand are prepared to put up with? I have started to use public transport more in order to have some sort of piece of mind. Not good Lexus, not good!
The canbus system is the weak poInt. as with all modern cars
Without giving all the details of how they use the canbus cables, in simple terms what they to do is send multiple messages via the cable behind the headlight to the cars ECU which then effectively puts the system into overload. Therefore, it can’t decide what it needs to do as inundated so the car can be unlocked and driven. There are solutions but may take time to get them out there.
All modern cars have similar systems and vulnerabilities.
The problem is for those that have owned lexus cars for a long time their customer service does not live up to your expectations we have had issues with our new Lexusmedia and at least .30 hours of my own time in trying to resolve it and still not perfect !
I had my lexus ES300 stolen on 18th December 23. It was stolen through the headlight wiring can bus method. It was parked on my drive and 7 pm in the evening we were all in the house noticed the car not on drive. Checked the cctv the car was stolen at 6.40pm .It took less than 2 minutes to steal.
Other vehicles drove past my house whilst theft was taking place which did not deter the thieves.
Phoned police got crime ref and following day phoned Lexus customer services about how quick the car was stolen.
The customer services rep told me they are aware of can bus theft method and Lexus are looking at it. I asked him what security measures i could take . He recommended steering lock or wheel clamp. I enquired what about a ghost immobiliser. He said any aftermarket immobiliser fitted would invalidate the Lexus warranty. I said clearly your fitted security/immobiliser is in adequate. Surely there is a problem until you fix the can bus problem an alternative security measure should be offered.
My car has not been recovered and did like the car, however how quickly it was stolen i would probably not buy Lexus again.
Hi Raj, thanks for your comment.
We’re really sorry to hear that you have been a victim of this crime. We will pass your feedback along to the Customer Relations team.
Thanks,
Lexus UK
Had my lexus stolen tonight, luckily got it back using the lexus app . I think it is disgraceful that lexus are not really interested in their cars being so easy to steal it has become the car to steal when you’re drunk to get you home !!! For Lexus ot just earns them more money as you have to repair or replace the car.
Let’s hope people realise this and stop buying them!! It’s the only way they will sit up and take notice.
Hi Andy,
We’re really sorry to hear that you have been a victim of this crime, but glad to hear your vehicle has been recovered.
Your local Lexus Centre will be able to assist with potential prevenative measures and we will pass your feedback along to our team.
Thanks,
Lexus UK
My es has been stolen 4 times in two months,lexus very easy to be stolen,I checked the CCTV and my car was unlocked and entered in about 30 seconds.
Hi there, thanks for your comment.
We are really sorry to hear that you have been a victim of this crime. We would recommend getting in touch with your local Lexus Centre to discuss preventative measures for your ES. They may be able to help signpost local options for things such as secondary immobilisers and steering locks.
Thanks,
Lexus UK