The facts:

• There was a 23 per cent rise in the number of smashed side windows reported in 2006 due to opportunistic thieves grabbing expensive gadgets left in clear view in unattended cars
• Despite a car theft taking place every 22 seconds, over 40% of motorists regularly leave valuables on show when their cars are unattended according to research by RAC Auto Windscreens
• Only 3% of motorists secure valuables in an in-car safe and just 13% put precious possessions in the boot
• This is especially worrying when research revealed that one in ten cars has contents worth more than £1000 – that’s over twice the value of electrical goods in the average British bedroom (£399)
• A quarter of cars have Sat Nav technology, a fifth transport a laptop, one in eight containing iPods and portable DVD players and three quarters of motorists leave a mobile phone in the car

RAC position:

RAC worked with Michael Fraser, a reformed burglar and presenter of BBC's Beat the Burglar programme, to put together some top tips for motorists:

• Invest in an in-car safe to keep valuables in
• Choose your parking spot wisely – consider parking in car parks with security guards and / or CCTV. Some policies offer reduced premiums if you regularly park in such locations
• Make a list of all your valuables, calculate how much they are worth and check that your insurance cover is sufficient
• Get windscreen chips fixed immediately – don’t open the window of opportunity for thieves
• Sat Navs are an easy reach from side window smashes and often contain personal data which could lead the thief to your home – keep them out of sight when not in use

For further information contact:

RAC Press office
Vicki Burn

Telephone: 01603 684224
vicki.burn@aviva.co.uk

Updated August 2007

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