'Crook Locks' would appear to have come a long way since the days when you just bolted a lump of iron bar to the top of your steering wheel... The idea behind the Halfords Steering Wheel Shield is that fitting the device over your steering wheel makes it impossible for a thief to turn the wheel (or nick the drivers airbag), thus deterring opportunistic car thieves.

It's touted as being virtually indestructible, being made from various impact resistant materials with a drill-proof lock and a saw-proof 'bar'. I've not actually gone at it with a hammer, drill or hacksaw but it does feel very sturdy. Halfords claim that it should resist attack for more than 5 minutes which should be long enough to deter all but the most dedicated of thieves.

The important thing with all security devices is that they must be easy enough to use on a daily basis. If it's too awkward, you just won't bother. The Steering Wheel Shield is, thankfully, easy to live with.

It's a half circle that fits over a steering wheel, with a bar that extends out of the bottom to ensure that once fitted, any turning of the wheel will be stopped by the drivers legs and/or seat. To fit the thing, you have to release the deadlocking mechanism which in turn releases a handle. Pulling the handle out from the face of the 'shield' allows the extending bar to move out from the inside of the shield, which happens 'automatically' as you place the shield over the wheel. Once in place, you push the handle back in to the face of the shield and this locks the extendable bar and shield in place.

To remove it from the wheel you simply release the deadlock, pull the handle out, slide the shield off and push the extendable bar back into the body of the shield, making sure you push the handle back in to lock the bar in place. You're then ready to store it.

Storage is the only problem... it's a big old beast, certainly too big to fit under most car seats. I usually leave it behind t
he drivers seat but when there are passengers in the back it has to go in the boot to free up the footwell.

Is it worth £60? In comparison to the £35 - 45 it could cost you for a regular steering wheels-bar type affair, I think it's definately worth the extra. Compared to products like the DiskLok it's £20 cheaper and a bit easier to use so I reckon it represents a very good compromise between security/price/usability.