Essex police have recently issued warnings on the importance of diligence when leaving your car, to stop thieves from easy stealing. People have been informed that the majority of car theft is down to opportunity, and have issued important information on how to avoid becoming a victim of this type of crime. Suggestions such as parking in safe and well lit areas, and keeping the car in a secure place at night are some of the thoughts aired. Lorna Watson, who is responsible for crime reduction in the South East, has also suggested that people get alarms and security devices installed to put off these criminals. As she states, it is a lot longer process for the victim to get their car fixed and deal with their Motor Insurance provider, than it is for the thief to break in and steal their possessions. Not to mention how upsetting it is for the victim.
In Buxton, police have warned that car owners need to be a bit more alert with their security, as there has been a spate of vandalism in the area, including the breaking of wing mirrors and destroying of tyres. 4.3 million UK motorists have been a victim of car vandalism in the past year, as found in a damning report from car insurer Direct line – up from just over 3.5 million in 2006. This seems a lot, but police think the figures could be a lot higher, as car owners shy away from reporting to the police on a lot of occasions. These incidents should be reported to the police, who will then issue a crime number.
Tony Chilcott, Head of Car Insurance at Direct Line, comments: “Official figures show that vandalism overall is a growing crime, with a 5 per cent increase on the previous year but, as our research shows, many acts of car vandalism go unreported, meaning that the actual number will be significantly higher.”
Be safe with your vehicle, and make sure that you implement these suggestions.
Insurance for Cars is often a lot cheaper with these factors in place too.