Motorists sloppy over car contents

by Gill Montia

Story link: Motorists sloppy over car contents

Prudential Car Insurance is urging motorists to exercise more caution in leaving their personal possessions in unattended vehicles.

According to a survey by the insurer, one-in-ten car owners in the UK are putting themselves at risk of identity theft by leaving sensitive documents, such as bills and bank statements, in their vehicles.

Such items are very attractive to opportunistic thieves and are often accompanied by valuable belongings.

Twenty per cent of motorists surveyed by the Prudential left possessions worth £150 in their vehicles, with 12% admitting to having over £350 worth of valuables open to view, on either the front or rear seats of their cars.

Seven per cent of car owners admitted to forgetting to place expensive personal items in the car boot and 6% sometimes forgot to lock their car.

The list of items most likely to be left on display include: clothes for the office (17%); sports equipment (13%); letters, bills, statements (10%); work files (10%); mobile phones (10%) iPod/MP3 players (4%); Laptops (2%).

In the UK 1.3 million thefts from vehicles are reported each year and for many of the victims, the value of the items stolen is well above any insurance cover in place.