Beat the Defender thieves
OWNING a good Defender is not just about the fun of driving it and the rewards of maintaining it. A significant and ongoing part of ownership can be simply trying to hang on to it. There are people around who are unable to understand the concept of having a job and being part of society. They find it more within their moral and mental capabilities to simply steal stuff that others have worked for, and Defenders, being relatively simple to break into, are high on their list. Nor are these people mentally challenged by the complications of sellingon a stolen Defender. Instead, they strip it down and flog the parts through the usual dodgy channels. Anyone can strip a Defender (it’s putting it together again that demands brainwork) and it doesn’t matter if a few parts are damaged during the strip down because they’re going to be sold on to someone else anyway.
So for us guys, it’s not only a matter of ensuring our Defenders are thief-proof, we also need to exercise a bit of discretion when buying used parts in order to avoid getting done for handling stolen goods, and to avoid buying sub-standard or damaged parts when the vendor, for obvious
reasons, will be suddenly untraceable. If we buy from these questionable sources, we are simply encouraging more theft, and thus higher insurance premiums.
I know of a Defender stolen by craning it over a fence and onto a truck, another was driven through a wall to get it away. Any classic Land Rover is best parked out of sight and locked in by gates, folding steel posts or other vehicles. Visible security cameras are a good deterrent, too. Also, be alert for vehicles following you home to see where your Land Rover lives.
In this month’s technical pages, Dave Barker shows a simple device that helps prevent thieves getting into your Land Rover, and this is another concern. Many parts are removable without stealing the complete vehicle. I’m obviously not going to say which parts or how in these pages, but any extra security that prevents ingress via the doors and bonnet is worth fitting.
We should also be vigilant, noting or taking a discreet photo of suspicious people or vehicles near a Land Rover, especially if a car transporter or trailer is involved or any dismantling is taking place. Never assume it’s just a breakdown call-out. Together, we can make things difficult for these people.