Higher motor vehicle insurance premiums mean
higher transport running costs, which lead
to higher freight charges, and this translates
to higher prices on the supermarket shelves.
And let's not forget the individual. The
poor motorist who has had his car stolen must
now cop a reduction in his No Claim Bonus
as well as pay a hefty excess. If he relies
on his vehicle for work there is also the
alarming prospect of a temporary loss of income.
So what can be done to combat these heinous
crimes?
Many new cars these days have built-in anti-theft
devices such as car alarms, engine demobilisers
and wheel nut locks. Even so, there are several
things car owners can do to prevent the their
vehicles being stolen.
" If your car doesn't come with an anti-theft
device, buy one.
" When parking on the street at night,
always choose a well-lit area.
" That anti-theft device that you bought…use
it!
" Never leave items that may be tempting
to a thief in plain sight. These may include
department store shopping bags, mobile phones,
wallets, gifts or other valuables. If such
things absolutely must be left in the vehicle,
hide them away in the glove box, boot or even
under the seats.
" This may sound obvious but keys should
never be left in the ignition. Many a car
has been stolen from right under its owner's
nose simply because the key was left in it.
Even if you're just popping in to pay for
the petrol you just pumped, take out the key.
Theft of your vehicle will take less than
ten seconds with the key already in the ignition.
" If you have a garage, put your car
in it instead of the pool table. And, having
done that, don't forget to lock it.
" If you don't have a garage, park in
the driveway instead of the street. (If you
don't have either… have you considered
a pushbike?)
" When leaving the vehicle unattended
at home, take your car keys with you.
" If leaving the car with a mechanic
for maintenance or repairs, only leave the
ignition key with the car.
" Never leave spare keys in or on the
vehicle.
" Don't leave important papers such
as registration, license or mail in the vehicle
while unattended.
If, even after being as careful as possible,
your vehicle is stolen, report the theft immediately
to the police. They will take details of the
vehicle, where it was parked and for how long,
as well as information about any items that
may have been inside it at the time.
You will then need to make a claim through
your insurance company -assuming you have
comprehensive motor vehicle insurance, of
course - as soon as possible. These days many
insurance companies allow you to report the
claim online as well as in person or over
the phone. The important thing is to do so
promptly, giving as much detail as is available
so as to help streamline the process.
Once the claim is reported, a claims officer
will most likely contact you within a day
or two to confirm the information. If accepted,
it may then take up to a further six weeks
to pay the claim if the vehicle is not recovered.
If it is found within that time, the vehicle
will be assessed as to whether it can be repaired
and, if so, at what cost. If the repair costs
would be more than the vehicle is worth, it
will be deemed a total loss and the claim
paid for the insured value less any excess.
Any way you look at it, motor vehicle theft
is a crime that causes loss and anxiety in
several different ways. The best we can do
is take as many steps as we can to prevent
it and support car manufacturers that provide
security devices in their cars.
As for the car thieves…placing them
in stocks and throwing rotten tomatoes at
them springs to mind…
