A mechanic has revealed how a £10 gadget can help drivers be “thief-proof” even if they manage to get inside their car.
This handy technology is equally effective against newer, more insidious forms of car crime, such as keyless theft.
Drawing on over 50 years of experience, Scotty Kilmer shares some of the best ways to protect your vehicle.
On his YouTube channel, he answered questions from unfortunate viewers who had recently had their car stolen.
The culprits apparently used professional scanner equipment to reprogram new key fobs for the motors.
The car, like many modern cars, had a keyless ignition system, so there was no need to insert the key and you could drive off as if you had the original key.
Scotti explained that to use a scan tool, a criminal would first have to intercept and replicate the key fob signal in order to gain entry into the car.
So-called keyless thefts are on the rise, with criminals using modified devices that resemble old Game Boys to carry out crimes within seconds.
Shocking video filmed earlier this year showed a gang using a “master device” to unlock a luxury Bentley before ramming it into a gated driveway and making their escape.
To protect yourself, Scotty advises: “Install a kill switch somewhere in your car.”
“When you flip the switch, your car won’t start even if you program the key.
“The kill switch is off and there is no power to anything that is turned off.
“You can wire it into the ignition system, the fuel injection system or the fuel pump.”
A basic killswitch kit can be bought for just £10 and can be installed at home or paid for by a professional to do it for a small fee.
The switch acts as a circuit breaker, preventing power from being applied to the wired system.
This way, the switch can be hidden inside the car, so even if a thief gets inside they won’t be able to start the engine.
Some of the more expensive kill switch systems can shut off your car remotely.
But Scotty also shared a completely free hack that will immobilize your car if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort.
He added: “Check the location of the fuel pump relay in the fuse box.”
“Just take it out when you leave the car.
“How many thieves have a spare fuel pump relay?”
Without the relay, the fuel pump will not work, no fuel will get to the engine, and the engine will not start.
Then, when you’re ready to drive again, just change the fuse and you’re on your way.
It only takes a few minutes to run, but of course you have to remember to do it every time.
This comes after Scotty revealed a simple maintenance task that, if done every five years, can “double the life of your engine”.