Ever had a car stolen? Did you collapse, broken-hearted, on the
floor when told that its burnt-out chassis had been found at the
bottom of a dry creek bed and was now home to a family of very
large rats? The stereo was gone, the seats were gone, the
woofers, gone. And the fluffy dice - they even took the dice!
No more "DOOF-DOOF", no more dice No more back seat paradise...
I know - you were much younger then....
The negative impact caused by car theft spares no one. Its
effects are felt right across the community. For example, an
increase in motor vehicle thefts means an increase in motor
vehicle insurance claims and this ultimately leads to a rise in
motor vehicle insurance premiums.
But it doesn't stop there. Even those who don't own a vehicle
end up bearing the cost of motor vehicle thefts indirectly as
taxi fares, bus fares, even school excursions become more
expensive. And if you believe you've been excluded from these
increased costs because you walk or cycle everywhere, think
again.
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...
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