Princess Beatrice's BMW stolen

Princess Beatrice’s BMW was stolen after being left unlocked last week, it was reported.

We reveal our top ten safety and security tips.

The 20-year-old Princess of York had her BMW 1 Series stolen last week after leaving it unlocked with keys in the ignition.

According to The Sun, Princess Beatrice left the £15,000 Beemer parked in a central London street before entering a shop with her police protection officer.

Thieves took off with the BMW shortly afterwards, which was fitted with personalised number plates.

It’s reported the Princess’s 1 Series was bought by her dad, Prince Andrew, as a gift for her 17th birthday.

The news comes one month after the Duchess of York’s car was sold with a list of royal addresses accidentally left in the sat-nav.

View our BMW 1 Series slide show:

How to avoid car theft

1. Always lock your car and take the keys with you when leaving it parked
2. Ensure all windows are closed
3. Take care not to leave valuable items on display – leave them at home or take them out of the car
4. When at home, park your car in your garage if possible
5. If you can’t use a garage, park in a well lit, open area. Driveways or car parks with an attendant and CCTV are a good idea
6. Fit an alarm or immobiliser to your car if it doesn’t already have one
7. Buy a steering wheel lock or tracking system. You can also fit locking wheel nuts to prevent alloy wheels being stolen
8. Get a security marking etched onto your car. These can be etched by a mechanic, and will help prove the car is yours if stolen and cloned
9. Never let a buyer test drive your car alone. Take the keys out of the ignition and keep hold of them when swapping seats
10. Avoid selling a car before receiving full payment into your bank account. Check the amount is available to use with your bank first. Try and receive payment inside a bank and bring a friend or relative for extra security

Five common car crimes

Tracker – the stolen vehicle recovery specialists, have listed their five most common car thefts:

1. Burglary and theft of car keys – Keys are commonly stolen from a hall table, kitchen worktop or hanging on wall hooks

2. Leaving the car with keys in and engine running – This usually happens when the owner clears ice or takes a quick trip to a local shop

3. Identity theft – Criminals steal the identity of an owner, then use forged or stolen documents to obtain a duplicate key

4. Test drives - Criminals ask to take a 'test drive' and drive off whilst the owner is getting in or out of the car.

5. Lifestyle criminals – A criminal carries out surveillance on the car owner and takes the best opportunity to steal the keys. For example when a driver leaves their car keys in an unattended jacket pocket in the pub
View our selling slide show

For more information read Auto Trader’s car security advice or visit the Safety and Security Centre.