Returning to your car to find that a window has been smashed in and the likes of your car radio has been stolen is a traumatic experience. Such an event could also result in your motor insurance premiums going up which is something that you could no doubt do without.
It is time consuming having to report the matter to the police as well as notifying your car insurance company. However, this is something that must be done.
It is interesting and concerning that RAC Insurance has established that there has been an increase in reported break ins into vehicles when comparing 2016 with 2015. In 2015 the number of reported vehicle break ins within 42 police forces in Wales, Scotland and England totalled 231,222 but in 2016 the figure had risen by 8,698 to 239,920. We are sure that you will agree that is a significant increase and something that motorists could do without.
Of those police forces providing data, 26 saw a rise in car break ins between 2015 and 2016. 15 forces saw a reduction.
In the City of London there was a huge percentage increase of 76%. There are no doubt many people who would have thought that somewhere like the City of London would not have seen too much crime of this nature. In Northamptonshire there was also a big rise – 41%. Dyfed Powys in Wales saw an increase of 23%. Wiltshire police also saw an increase of 23%. West Midlands police saw a rise of 11%.
North Yorkshire police saw a drop of 7%. Scotland saw a fall of 4%. West Mercia saw a fall of 8%. North Wales saw a fall of 10%. Norfolk saw a drop of 7%.
Further information can be found on the website of the RAC.
Motorists should do all that they can to reduce the possibility of their cars being broken into so as to avoid the need to claim on their car insurance policies. For instance, you may wish to make sure that you have a suitable alarm fitted to the vehicle and that you use a steering wheel lock. If you have a garage then lock your car in it at night or, if you don’t, park your car on the drive. In this way, you are less likely to have it stolen or broken into than if you parked it on the street. If you do have to park it on the road then why not consider leaving it under a street light that may act as a deterrent to a car thief.
