Maypole Steering Wheel Lock (MP5494)

Maypole Steering Wheel Lock (MP5494) here is what we think.

Car and caravan security are very important and after a career in Policing we both have a good knowledge of how thieves work. Not only is it important to protect your caravan from theft but also your car. Many years ago cars didn’t have an immobiliser fitted and car thieves could “hot wire” a car to start it and then drive away.

Car manufacturers developed the immobiliser security device so without the actual car key, to disable the inbuilt immobiliser, the car could not be started. Around this time car steering wheel locks were common place, the main product used to prevent car theft. As immobilisers became installed on all new cars the use of the wheel lock diminished. Car thieves had to develop new means of stealing cars and this lead to an increase in domestic burglary across the country.

Burglars entered homes with the sole purpose of stealing car keys, they even used fishing rods to hook them out through letterboxes. With the actual car key in their possession they were able to drive away with the car. Car technology has developed, with keyless entry being the latest must have feature. This system relies on the key fob sending a short wave frequency to the car to tell it the key is present. The car doors then unlock and the car can be started with the push start button. Car thieves are able to purchase a whole range of devices that fool the car into unlocking. The car thief will stand  next to your car with one part of the device, the device will boost the seeking range of your car, which is always looking for the key this ‘code’ or password is constantly changing so in simplest terms a password question is constantly changed by the car. The accomplice stands next to the house where the car key is with the other device with the cars answer and between them they can bridge the frequency gap and allow the frequency of the key to reach the car. The car then believes the key is present and opens and will start.

A steering wheel lock will add a physical barrier to your car being driven away, once fitted the Maypole Steering Wheel Lock will mean the wheel cannot be turned sufficiently to drive the car any distance. The bar will hit the windscreen at the top and the centre console at the bottom. The lock also covers the airbag in the centre so this cannot be removed and the steering wheel unscrewed and removed. The lock of the Maypole product is drill proof and if attacked it will spin around in the casing. The metal bar will withstand a hacksaw and for anyone asking about an angle grinder, there aren’t many burglars and car thieves that carry those around. They make a lot of noise and would alert people to the theft in the early hours of the morning. The steering wheel lock is a visible deterrent, a tested physical barrier and a last line of defence against a thief. The Maypole Steering Wheel Lock weighs 2.75kg and comes with two keys. It can be bought online at Amazon (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases), Ebay and other retailers, and online and in store at Towsure and Go Outdoors. Prices vary from £40-50 and this offers good value for money and additional peace of mind. Click HERE to see our review page.