It'll never happen to me. It's many peoples' approach to car theft. And while insurance covers the cost of replacing a car, research shows that it doesn’t take all the pain out of losing the car in the first place. There's the inconvenience.
The feeling of being violated (see above). In this special report we give you the facts about car theft – and some simple tips to avoid it.
My car won't get stolen
Over 131,000 cars are stolen every year in Australia. That's one every four minutes .
No one will steal my old bomb
The majority of vehicles stolen are over 10 years old. They're easy targets as they lack effective security devices.
Most cars are stolen by organised gangs who will steal my car no matter how I protect it
About one in four cars are stolen by professional thieves. The majority of cars are pinched by opportunistic thieves for joyriding or to commit another crime. These thieves are deterred by modern security devices.
Car theft only affects me if it's my car stolen
If car theft stopped, everyone’s insurance premiums would come down. Car theft costs the insurance industry and criminal justice system one billion dollars a year. Tragically, lives are lost every year in crashes involving stolen vehicles.
So what can I do?
- Fit a self-arming electronic immobiliser – it's the most effective security (and most cars accept them)
- Don't hide a second set of keys in or on your car
- Never leave your car with the keys in it or running unattended – even for a minute
- Hide personal items (but don't do it when potential thieves could be watching) – better still, don’t keep any items in the car at all
- Close all windows, lock all doors and take the keys with you
- Park in a well-lit place at night
- If you have off-street parking, use it.
- Park in a secure attended car park when you're away from home
- Any security is better than none.
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The content, thoughts and opinions stated in this article are of the relevant contributors. The Buzz Insurance do not necessarily share or endorse those opinions. Neither The Buzz Insurance nor any of its employees makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product, or process disclosed.
