Time to Tighten Up on Car Security - AA Insurance

The 2008 AA Insurance Drivers Index, which surveyed 2,573 New Zealand drivers age-old 18-75, letters that 84 percent of humans consistently lock the car even if abrogation it for a abbreviate time. However, a third say they consistently leave backing such as gym bags, watches or added backing arresting in the car, and 18 percent address accepting had their car broken into.

Asked what had been stolen, 19 percent of humans had their CD amateur or iPod stolen, 12 percent said CDs or tapes, 12 percent said sunglasses or clothing, 12 percent said banknote and apart change, 7 percent said baggage or antic equipment, and 6 percent said a handbag, wallet or purse.

This translates into big-ticket allowance claims. The boilerplate amount of a affirmation to AA Insurance for items baseborn from a car is $1,400. Some of the accepted thefts of cogent amount are:

1. Sports accessories (average claim: $2,122)
2. Jewellery (average claim: $1,908)
3. Computer (average claim: $1,783)
4. Electronics (iPods, alarm detectors, GPS systems etc; boilerplate claim: $1,734)
5. Musical instruments (average claim: $1,732)
6. Bicycle (average claim: $1,687)

In addition, some 30 percent of insurance claims, AA Insurance logs for abuse to a car are for theft of or accident to the car stereo, and the boilerplate amount of these claims is $1,050.

"Thieves will consistently go for the easiest, fastest option," says Chris Curtin, CEO, AA Insurance."Our claims administration letters two new trends for humans to be acquainted of. Thieves are targeting gym accoutrements larboard in cars. Gym accoutrements generally accommodate sports shoes, iPods and added big-ticket accessories, so thieves will crop a adventitious that what's in a gym bag is account stealing. Navigation systems and alarm detectors are aswell approved items now - and account hundreds, so accept a acceptable resale amount for thieves."

Asked about area their car was endure broken in to, 31 percent of humans appear accessible car parks, authoritative this the a lot of acceptable abode for a car breach in. However, home wasn't that abundant safer, with 26 percent adage the car was on the artery or abutting artery to home, and 20 percent adage the car was in the garage, barn or driveway.

Those that consistently don't lock their cars were asked about area they larboard them unlocked. The account base was the abode cited a lot of frequently, with 26 percent acceptance they usually don't lock the car there. Almost a division don't lock their car at home, with 23 percent adage they don't lock their car if it's anchored alfresco their house, and 22 percent say they don't lock their car if it's anchored in the barn at home.

AA Insurance aswell appear that, according to its claims statistics, Aucklanders are alert as acceptable to accomplish a affirmation for items baseborn from their cars compared with the blow of the country. Within Auckland, the close city-limits and axial suburbs accept the accomplished amount of claims for annexation from cars - college than Manukau and Henderson - while North Shore has the lowest. Outside of Auckland, Rotorua has the accomplished rate, followed by Hamilton and Hastings. The everyman allowance claims for annexation from car accident ante are in Taranaki and throughout the South Island (outside of Christchurch). These areas are 5 times beneath acceptable to accept a annexation from car allowance affirmation than in axial Auckland. Christchurch suburbs Sydenham and Shirley are the a lot of acceptable places in the South Island to accomplish a affirmation for annexation from a car. (These after-effects don’t necessarily advance area annexation from a car is added acceptable to occur; they may reflect ante of allowance and claims.)

Top 10 areas for allowance claims for annexation from a car from AA Insurance

1. Auckland axial suburbs
2. Auckland close city
3. East Auckland
4. South East Auckland
5. West Auckland
6. Penrose
7. South Auckland
8. Albany
9. Rotorua
10. North Shore

With new trends in adept annexation patterns in mind, AA Insurance has fatigued up some quick tips for consumers on car security.

1. Make abiding you're not 'advertising' to thieves by announcement your backing to anyone who walks accomplished your car window.
2. Use your car's aegis appearance - locks, alarms, council locks - because thieves consistently attending for the easiest option.
3. Always lock your car if you're not in it - even at account stations.
4. Remove your stereo's faceplate and abundance it in the glovebox while you're not application the car.
5. If you can, abolish from afterimage aeronautics systems and alarm detectors if you leave your car.
6. Store your gym bag in the boot. If your car is a bear or liftback, cull the absorber over so no-one can see what's inside.
7. On the artery at night, esplanade beneath a artery light. Your car is added visible, and so is a abeyant thief.
8. In a parking building, aim for a atom abreast the attendant, or abreast a aegis camera or lights.
9. People now generally backpack several big-ticket accessories with them: cellphones, PDAs, iPods, sunglasses as able-bodied as wallets. Take them with you if you leave the car - but if you charge to leave them in the car, defended them central the glovebox or inthe accumulator amid the foreground seats.
10. Lock the car even if you've larboard the dog inside. You ability anticipate your pet is accouterment protection, but thieves ability be even added motivated to breach in, because of the resale amount of your dog.

About AA Insurance
AA Insurance was launched in 1994 and is a collective adventure amid New Zealand Automobile Association and Suncorp-Metway Limited. AA Insurance has over 300 agents application 130,000 additional barter and manages about 300,000 policies. Over bisected of those behavior awning motor allowance risks including cars, bikes, caravans, and motor homes, and the butt are home insurance and home capacity insurance. AA Insurance Limited has an A+ (Strong) insurer banking backbone appraisement accustomed by Standard and Poor's (Australia) Pty Ltd on 17 May 2008. For added advice appointment www.aainsurance.co.nz

For added advice amuse contact:
Melodie Vickars,
AA Insurance,
(09) 966 8549,
melodie_vickars@aainsurance.co.nz