Car Theft Insurance
Overall the number of cars that are stolen every year is declining, this is mostly due to advances in car security such as factory fit alarm/immobilisers. For the average thief, it's just not worth the time trying to bypass an immobiliser with an alarm screaming in their ear so they tend to move onto a car with no security measures.
However, a worrying trend has emerged in the last few years regarding expensive new cars. As many of these cars have very advanced security systems, thieves have changed their approach. Instead of trying to defeat the system they are simply bypassing.
There have been a number of cases where thieves will break into the victims home purely to steal the car keys for an expensive sports car, therefore it's very important that you never leave your keys in an obvious place. Obviously no one wants their car insurance to be affected by car theft and there are a number of things you can do to prevent the keys being stolen.
1) Don't leave your keys on the kitchen counter, on that little shelf as you come in or on the living room table. Thieves know the most common places so try to be innovative and hide them somewhere unexpected or get a key safe. These devices cost very little and could deter thieves from stealing your car.
2) If you have a garage, USE IT!! There's nothing more attractive to a gang of thieves than a nice shiny sports car left on the drive.
3) Ensure you have all the levels of security. You should have at a bare minimum, an immobiliser and an alarm. You can also buy tracking devices that should make it easier for the police to track your vehicle.
4) If you do not have a garage to hide you car, you could get a car cover or consider placing a removable post at the end of your drive. These devices should stop anyone from simply driving your car away.
5) Secure your house. It may sound stupid, but many people leave windows unlocked and back doors open. This also includes sheds that may contain ladders or tools, don't make the thieves life any easier by providing them with all the necessary tools.
6) NEVER, EVER leave your car unlocked with the keys in the ignition on a petrol station forecourt. This is one of the easiest ways for a thief to steal your car and is 100% preventable.
7) Always keep your keys on you. Don't leave them on the bar while you talk to someone, it's far too easy for someone to distract you while their friend steals them out from under your nose.
Car theft can be very distressing, but we guarantee you'll be even more annoyed if you know you're the one who made it easy for the thief, don't take the chance. There's also a possibility that your car insurance won't cover you if it can be proved that you were negligent.
