Each year, car theft and burglary together costs about

Each year car theft costs us about $300 million, and burglary sets us back by another $150 million.
    Yet the police reckon that one car in five is left unlocked, or with windows open, or with expensive goods on display. It is estimated that over 60% of homes still do not have any window locks, although that’s better than a few years ago when it was near 90%.
    These facts illustrate a basic truth. The truth is that most criminals are on the lookout for a soft touch. They are not experienced "professionals" who set out with particular targets in mind, but young, inexperienced or unsophisticated. What they’re looking for is a house or car that will let them get in, get what they want and get away quickly.
    Many of these opportunities can just as easily be removed, by fitting and using locks, or by taking other very simple precautions. And if we can prevent inexperienced criminals with proper individual effort and cost, how much more could be achieved by working together in Neighborhood Watches? Or in other local activities involving police, councils, businesses, voluntary groups and schools? More radically still, what might we see if more systematic effort was made to design anti-crime features into cars, houses and estates?
    This is not a pipe dream; it’s already happening.