Car thieves getting away with everything

It seems car thieves will steal just about anything, including dog food, a cat flap and some celery. These are just some of the items customers of car insurance expert, Admiral have tried to claim for in the last twelve months.

Admiral looked at over 8,000 personal effects claims to produce a list of the most unusual personal effects its customers have had stolen in the last year. Also in the list are a bag of homework, a 6ft Power Ranger costume and a pair of knickers.

Admiral managing director, Sue Longthorn, said, "We sifted through data from the last year to see what exactly the most commonly stolen objects are. Among the more usual CDs and Sat Navs we discovered some very strange things. Quite why someone would leave some of these things in their car or want to claim for them is a mystery."

The twenty most unusual items in Admiral's list are:

A cat flap
Disco lights
A wetsuit
A pair of knickers
Dog food
Celery
A pair of curtains
A 6ft power Ranger costume
A gazebo
Four oil paintings
A wheelchair
A bag of homework
Some sandwiches
£10,000 cash
3,000 scented candles
Pyjamas
A piggybank
Two pairs of boxing gloves
Leather shorts
Fluffy dice

Admiral also produced a list of the most commonly stolen items from its customers' cars. It has calculated that a typical family of three could be carrying items worth more than £2,800 in its cars, this means in total UK motorists could have property worth around £28billion in glove boxes, boots and on backseats.

According to Admiral the ten most commonly stolen items, not including stereos, are:

1st CDs
2nd Sat Nav systems
3rd iPods/MP3 players
4th Jackets
5th Mobile phones
6th Laptops
7th Cameras
8th Sunglasses
9th Handbags
10th Golf clubs

Top tips for preventing car crime

Don't leave anything visible in an unattended car, even if it is worthless, a thief doesn't know that.

Never leave valuable items in the car. In particular, take your Sat nav systems with you and remove any suction marks left on the windscreen.

Lock all windows and doors, not forgetting the sunroof, when leaving the car.

Use a steering wheel lock.

Never leave the keys in the ignition, even when you're paying for petrol.

If you don't have one already get an alarm and immobiliser fitted.

Sue Longthorn, said, "Our data shows the items most commonly claimed for following a theft and therefore the things we commonly keep in our cars. It's staggering once you sit down and work out the value of it all. While you may not mourn the loss of your sandwiches or fluffy dice, how upset would you be if someone stole your iPod, phone or handbag?

"It may be stating the obvious, but leave nothing on show in an unattended car. Our research shows car thieves will steal anything."