London: The Rising Problem of Car Theft in The Capital.
Although London has always been popular with supercar enthusiasts, the city has gained notoriety in recent years as a prime location for the theft of expensive sports cars. The experts at Windrush Car Storage discuss the current impact this is having on Londoners who own supercars.
Many of the supercars that were welcomed to Windrush were parked for an extended period of time in central London's public parking lots, though others were on the street. There are several things to take into account when using a public parking lot to store a high-end supercar, including the fact that cars are permitted free entry as long as they use their ticket to leave within a predetermined window of time, typically 15 minutes. This gives unauthorised visitors plenty of opportunity to enter unimpeded, and their open construction also causes issues with supercar condition.
Tim Earnshaw, Founder of Windrush Car Storage, tells more. “Some of the cars that came to us at short notice were collected from long term parking in public car parks located in the heart of the city. What was shocking was the levels of dust and dirt the cars had accumulated and the fact their battery health was poor. This shows that not only do these car parks have a level of vulnerability, but they also do an inadequate job of caring for the car, despite giving the appearance of being a closed and secure environment.”
And those looking for a safe haven for their supercars weren't just private individuals. Professional chauffeurs and hire fleets also contacted Windrush to shift their cars out of sight, drawn in by their round-the-clock availability as well as the cutting-edge security, demonstrating the city's growing problem with theft.
Tim added, “The rise in vehicle theft in London has seen more owners seeking secure storage for their own peace of mind. Thefts in London seemed to start when certain Range Rover models became targets for thieves, and, subsequently, we now have a number in our care. Cars are occasionally vandalised too, and there is a heightened risk of damage caused by climate protests. All of these issues prompt London car enthusiasts to seek secure storage so they can continue to enjoy their cars without risk. The problem seems worse than ever at the moment, and being at the forefront of London car culture, we often see trends long before they are reported.”
High-end vehicle theft appears to be at an all-time high in London right now, and videos on YouTube show vehicles, including a Veyron, being the target of ride-by attacks to steal the driver's watch. A target group's vehicle tyre damage is also increasing, and frequent climate protests raise the stakes. And that's before the ULEZ zone's expansion is taken into account. Notwithstanding these problems, car ownership in London is still quite popular, and Windrush consistently accepts a wide variety of vehicles at its site in London.
Alastair picks up the story, "Sure, we get a number of clients for distressing reasons, as we’ve mentioned, but London continues to be a hub for interesting cars. London residents continue to enjoy their cars, from classics to supercars and restomods to EVs, and we do everything we can to enhance their ownership experience. We take all the stress and hassle away, allowing them to use their cars with ease, whenever they want to. I don’t think London will ever become a no-go zone for supercars, but perhaps more owners will use the services of a quality storage company to mitigate risk.”
Although many people think of car storage as a place to keep a cherished classic, there are as many different reasons to use Windrush as there are vehicles kept inside its secret walls. Some people store their car collections to keep them private because they don't want to display their collections to the public, while others do so because they enjoy having their cars ready to go, fully serviced, and MOT-tested without the owner ever having to lift a finger. Bonded storage may be used to store cars as investments. Whatever the reason, Windrush Car Storage is devoted to providing the greatest supercar storage solution available, no matter what, and provides the same careful standards of service to each and every client.
Their huge London facility, which is concealed from view in a prime position, offers cutting-edge security and safety. Operating 24 hours a day, owners can use their vehicles as frequently as they like while still receiving treatment more in line with a five-star hotel than a car storage facility. Nevertheless, they don't want to make a big deal out of it, and Windrush doesn't frequently post on social media or host open houses. Discretion is everything as a recent FT feature on London’s supercar spotters confirmed that when they stated “Cars are kept in a handful of private garages scattered across the city, most famously Windrush’s secret ‘Bat Cave’ in West London. And good luck getting any intel on that.”
Tim Earnshaw concludes, “Windrush offers a total car management solution for collectors, investors, and drivers. The team go the extra mile in everything we do. Our motto is simple: the answer’s always yes. We believe in proactive storage so that every vehicle is 'on the button' whenever you would like to next use. One level of service, no compromise, only the very best.”
Discover more: Windrush Car Storage
