Do Bollards Help Prevent Vehicle Theft?

According to the Home Office, vehicle thefts have risen by around 75% over the past decade in England and Wales - totalling more than 120,000 a year.

Some vehicle owners turn to measures like security cameras and signal-blocking key pouches to guard against this type of crime. But do bollards help prevent vehicle theft? Let’s find out.

Feel free to use the links to jump ahead if you like!

How do bollards help prevent vehicle theft?

What types of theft can bollards prevent?

How to secure your vehicle with bollards

Important points to remember

Final thoughts

FAQs

How do bollards help prevent vehicle theft?

Bollards are used across the nation to stop vehicles being stolen from driveways and businesses. How exactly do they help?

Physical barrier

Bollards form a robust physical obstacle that makes it more difficult for would-be thieves to drive your vehicle away. This might be a single retractable or folding bollard at the end of your driveway, or a perimeter of posts around a car dealership.

Visual deterrent

Bollards also signal to thieves that the vehicle’s owner is hot on security. This may cause them to give up on the attempt, especially if they think it’s likely that the owner has also installed additional security measures such as cameras or ghost immobilisers.

What types of theft can bollards prevent?

Criminals are pretty inventive, using a number of popular methods for stealing vehicles. Here’s how bollards can stop them:

Keys left in car

If you accidentally leave your keys inside your car (come on, we’ve all done it) and an opportunistic thief happens along, they may be able to start the vehicle but a bollard will stop them from driving it away.

Keyless relay theft

Modern vehicles with keyless entry systems can be subject to “relay” attacks, where criminals use the wireless signal from the entry fob to unlock the vehicle without needing the actual key. Again, they still can’t drive it away if there’s a bollard standing guard.

Lift-away / tow-away theft

Bollards can also prevent criminals from lifting your vehicle onto a flatbed truck, or simply attaching a tow-rope and pulling it away. This type of theft is common with high-value vehicles or those parked for long periods. It often goes unnoticed by passers-by, even if the car alarm goes off - especially if the thieves are disguised as breakdown responders or parking wardens.

Repeat attempts at the same premises

If a vehicle has already been stolen from your home or business, the same thieves may return. They know how to gain access, and they know you’re likely to have a shiny new replacement vehicle on the drive. If you are unlucky enough to be the victim of vehicle theft, installing bollards will at least deter future attempts.

How to secure your vehicle with bollards

If you’re going to install bollards as an anti-theft measure, you’ll need to know what type to buy and where to put them.

Use the right bollard type

When using bollards for this purpose, the main thing is to ensure that they are heavy-duty enough to stop determined criminals from breaking or dismantling them.

Fixed or static posts, such as anti-ram bollards, are the strongest. But for driveways, you’ll want a post that can be moved out of the way when you need to move your own car. This includes the removable, retractable, or folding type.

Fully removable bollards are strong, but they’re heavy to carry and you need to have somewhere to put them when not in use. Folding or drop-down bollards, which lie flat on the floor when folded, offer more flexibility - but thieves may be able to break the mechanism.

Retractable or telescopic bollards are ideal, as they slide smoothly down into the ground when you want to get past them. They can also be concreted into the ground, which makes them more robust than bolt-down installations..

You can also use other concreted-in bollards to form a perimeter if there isn’t another physical barrier elsewhere.

Essentially, you want secure bollards, but you don’t want something that’s so time-consuming or cumbersome to use that you give up and don’t bother. You can find more advice in our bollards buying guide.

Use the right bollard positioning

The spacing of your security bollards is also key to their success. If you’re using multiple posts, make sure they are spaced close enough together to prevent the vehicle from being driven between them.

It’s not just high-end cars that get stolen - some criminals target older models to sell them for parts. They may not be too worried about damaging the vehicle by trying to ram your bollards out of the way. Position them close enough to the vehicle so that the thief aiming to drive it away can’t build up enough momentum to damage or knock over the posts.

However, if you want to prevent thieves from lifting your vehicle onto a flatbed truck, place the bollards far enough from the car that a crane can’t get close in order to lift the vehicle away.

Check out our article on how to install bollards.

Important points to remember

Bollards alone can’t prevent every type of vehicle-related crime. For example, NO bollard can stop someone from vandalising your car or physically attacking you for your keys. Of course, a thief could also steal your vehicle when you're parked somewhere other than your own premises.

Opportunistic thieves, or those who have been watching your property, have been known to strike when you’re lowering your bollards for access. Be especially cautious when getting out of your vehicle to do this, as a thief could hop into the car if the engine is running or snatch your keys from you.

Final thoughts

Bollards are well worth considering for the prevention of vehicle theft - especially if you live or work in an area with a high risk of this type of crime. Make sure you choose the right bollard type for your needs, and think carefully about how to position the posts.

If you need any further information about which bollards to buy or how to install them, give our friendly sales team a call!

FAQs

Where can I install bollards?

As a general rule, you can install bollards on your own property, whether it’s a driveway, a forecourt, or a private access road. It’s always best to check with your local council to find out if any special conditions apply. You can’t install bollards on public pavements or paths without planning permission.

Can bollards reduce my vehicle insurance costs?

Check with your insurer to find out if installing bollards will reduce your premium. But if your vehicle is stolen and you claim on your insurance, your premium is likely to go up in the future - so any steps you take to prevent theft will save you money in the long run.