Figures show 19% rise in stolen vehicles over past twelve months
Every day at least 53 householders in England and Wales find that their car has disappeared following burglary of their home to obtain the keys, AA Insurance reveals.
Figures announced in a parliamentary answer given by the Rt. Hon Alan Johnson MP, Home Secretary last month, show that in 2008/09 over 19,400 cars were stolen in this way, more than 1,600 per month: a 19 per cent increase over similar figures announced last year.
A further 2,700 car keys were stolen by robbery of individuals, a slight but welcome fall over the previous year.
Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance says he is alarmed by this by this trend. “It’s almost impossible to steal a modern car without first obtaining the keys.
“Our own insurance claims statistics show a similar trend with an average value of cars taken using stolen keys just over £10,000 – which underlines the increasing determination, patience and ingenuity of thieves targeting upmarket cars, even though the total number of cars stolen is falling.
“Although some cars are quickly recovered, particularly if they are fitted with a tracking device, many just disappear. It’s believed that they are either taken out of the country in freight containers or broken up for the lucrative overseas spares market.”
Douglas points out that this means car insurers are potentially facing claims of over £190m as a result of domestic burglary.
He adds that often home owners make it easy for burglars to get hold of keys. “A common tactic for thieves is to take keys off hall tables or from convenient key racks near the door, simply by ‘fishing’ for them with a pole through the letterbox.
“Burglars are also adept at opening doors secured with conventional slam-shut barrel locks. Once in the house, they’ll often find the keys left on a table or sideboard and can make a quiet getaway in the stolen vehicle and it could be some time before the family realises that their car has gone after a frantic search for their keys.”
Recent claims at AA Insurance have included keys stolen:
• While the owners were asleep at night
• While owners have been in the garden or have ‘popped out for five minutes’
• Keys left in front door locks
• Keys ‘fished’ through the letter box or through open window fanlights
• Homes comprehensively burgled and the family car used as a getaway vehicle
• Three cars stolen out of a locked garage following burglary of all the family’s keys, while they were on holiday
• Keys stolen from workplaces, gym lockers and changing rooms
• Keys quietly picked out of unwatched bags or pockets
• Smaller numbers stolen by way of threats, muggings or carjackings
April 26, 2010