Car contents rich pickings for thieves

The UK’s motorists are leaving £3.9bn worth of gadgets in their cars, turning them into a thief’s paradise, according to new research from leading car insurance company, Zurich.

Gone are the days when cars only boasted a modest cassette player. Times have changed and so have the contents of cars. Today’s motorists are more likely to have a DVD player, Sat Nav system, children’s toys and CDs in their cars making them goldmine for thieves.

Zurich’s research reveals that 85 per cent of British drivers leave belongings in their cars, with an average value of £145. One in five drivers (21 per cent) have valuables worth more than £200, and one in 20 more than £500. Some risk more than £2,000 worth of goods, while two fifths of motorists who leave possessions in their vehicle have no idea about the full value of their car’s contents.

Young drivers aged 18-24 years old are the worst offenders, leaving valuables with an average of £200 unattended. Male motorists are also particularly lax, with an average of £161.16 in possessions kept in their cars, compared to £127.17 among female drivers.

The report reveals that the most common items to be left include car stereos (51 per cent), CD collections (44 per cent) and Sat Nav systems (seven per cent). One in 20 drivers even leave their house keys (six per cent) and mobile phone (five per cent) in their car.

Apathy, it seems, is at the root of Britons’ tendency to tempt thieves in this way. More than one in four motorists who leave their possessions unattended (27 per cent) admit that it is easier to keep their belongings in their vehicles than ferry them to and fro, while one in 10 cite laziness and one in 12 (eight per cent) simple forgetfulness.

Yet the research also finds that more than one in 10 motorists who leave their possessions in their car (12 per cent) have been the victim of theft in the last five years, with the car stereo – not only the most common item to leave unattended but also the most expensive – the most commonly taken item and the one that people admit they would miss most.

Despite leaving such valuable items unattended, many Britons are not taking adequate precautions to protect themselves from thieves. One fifth of drivers who leave possessions in their car (18 per cent) have no security measures in place, such as a car alarm, lockable glove compartment or safety box. Nor do those with security measures necessarily use them, as one in 20 motorists with an alarm confess they do not always arm it when leaving their car.

The study also reveals that many motorists are not even sure they have the protection offered by insurance. One in 20 drivers who leave their possessions in their car thinks their policy does not cover them for break-ins, with a further third (34 per cent) uncertain whether they would be covered.

Roy Seeds, head of motor underwriting at Zurich Insurance said, “It’s now common for our cars to be filled with our possessions – not just in-car entertainment and driving gadgets, but even clothes and designer accessories. Yet harried, time-poor drivers often fail to realise just how valuable the possessions they leave in their cars are and are not taking the right precautions.

“We would urge people, wherever possible, not to leave valuables in their cars and, if they have no other option, ensure they are locked in the boot. Drivers should also check the terms of their insurance policy and make sure they understand what their cover offers them.”