Causes of car theft, the car was running!
Every year, a great number of cars are stolen when the motor is left running. The thief’s job has been made easy—all he or she needs to do is sit down and take the car for a ride!
In a perfect world, none of us would leave a car idling with no one at the wheel. However, since our Canadian weather can be volatile, we’re prone to making exceptions. On frigid nights or scorching hot days, or under other extreme weather conditions, it’s hard to resist the temptation of leaving the engine running while we run a short errand or wait for the temperature inside the car to become more comfortable.
Every time we leave our car running, we’re virtually handing the keys to the first thief wandering by. There’s no need for him or her to be a criminal mastermind; in fact, most of the cars retrieved after these kinds of incidents had been “borrowed” by opportunists who had nothing to do with professional car thieves.
Every year at belairdirect, we deal with claims that arise from a key having been left in the ignition. These claims don’t occur frequently, but they do come up a few times every year.
Maybe not a frequent occurrence, but a very frustrating one
Too many of our clients have seen their vehicles disappear before their eyes, whether it be a son who was helping his disabled mother come down the stairs or a client who stopped at the convenience store in -30 weather.
Other than incidents that occur when brief stops are made, the use of remote starters is another occasional cause of theft. Drivers who want to warm up or cool down the interior of their cars while they wait comfortably inside their homes are opening the door to thieves—even if the car doors are locked. When the motor’s running, it’s easy enough to break a window and get behind the wheel in a few seconds.
In the majority of cases, the vehicles are recovered because these are opportunistic thefts rather than instances of criminal trafficking for stolen cars. Material damage is rare, but a major cleanup is usually needed.
Whatever the case may be, people lose possession of their vehicles, along with all the frustration such a loss entails. Thieves get access to personal items and private documents, including personal information. It only takes a little imagination to see how an event like this can become a cause of stress and anxiety.
Whenever you leave your car running and unattended, you need to ask yourself whether the few minutes of convenience merits the risk of having your car stolen!
Covered by car insurance
At belairdirect, car theft is normally covered with theft coverage. The car-insurance deductible is applicable to repairs required as a result of the incident, and the event becomes part of the client’s claims history. If the thieves are found, we can attempt to recover the amounts disbursed. However, thieves are insolvent more often than not.
The best protection, therefore, is prevention. A good place to start is by not using a remote starter in places where the car cannot be monitored. Some anti-theft measures have been proven effective, such as parts engraving, steering wheel lock bars and tracking systems. And the cherry on the sundae is that some of these things can actually reduce your insurance premium!
Learn more about how you can protect yourself from paying out of pocket for car theft with replacement cost coverage and home insurance for your personal property.
