In-car gadgets tempt thieves
Summary
New research reveals UK motorists leave on average £278 worth of belongings in their vehicles whilst unattended.
A survey conducted by Gocompare.com on 2,000 adults in Britain earlier this year revealed that the item most frequently left in a glovebox is a satellite navigation system, mentioned by 33% of participants.
Mobile phones got 22% in the poll and wallets or purses 18%. On average £112 worth of items are left by motorists in this container.
An average of £165 is left in the boot of the car by motorists, with laptops (15%) and golf clubs/sporting equipment (20%) and power tools (eight per cent) the most frequently mentioned.
People aged 18 to 24 years old are 50% more likely to leave valuables in a glove-box then those aged over 45. An alarming 72% admitted they didn’t know what cover, if any, they had for items unattended in cars.
Car insurance cover for personal belongings are often limited to fully comprehensive policies and restricted to around £100, with this type of cover rarely extending to cash or business goods; or items not in a locked compartment.
A spokesman for Gocompare.com, Lee Griffin, says: “Claims are usually paid on an indemnity basis, so if you need to make a claim a deduction will be made for wear and tear’.
“If you need to leave valuable items in your car, make sure they are out of sight and locked in the boot," concluded Griffin.
Bluetooth connectivity and music streaming are increasingly commonplace in new cars like the 2011 Ford Focus and particularly executive marques including Mercedes Benz and BMW, leading drivers to take expensive gadgets with them while driving.
Meanwhile Autoglass has warned against excessive dashboard clutter, with 33% of van drivers revealing near misses caused by views obscured by food packaging, newspapers and coffee cups.
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