New online tool identifies car theft patterns
Owners can avoid the behavioural and environmental factors that makes their cars targets for theftAn interactive website developed by insurer Budget Direct offers vehicle owners an insight into the minds of car thieves, and why some cars are stolen more than others.
It may not be just the model and type of car that appeals to crooks – although the N15 Pulsar has been a standout target for some time – but also where the car is left, how easy it is to track down keys for it and whether you lock the car at night... among other factors.
The tool, which is named 'Will my car get stolen', draws on data supplied by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (NMVTRC).
Budget Direct claims that seven different factors contribute to car theft. The age of the car is one, if it predates mandatory engine immobilisers. How desirable – colour, value and general appeal – also count, and how easy it is to steal – where the keys are kept and whether the vehicle is located – is another consideration.
Finally, the state in which the owner resides is important too. According to the NMVTRC, car theft is rising throughout most Australian states. New South Wales and WA are exceptions to the rule. From April last year through to March 2017, 46,509 cars were stolen, which corresponds to three cars out of every 1000. The highest rise in theft was in the ACT (28%) and Queensland (27.5%). Victoria, which has seen a high-profile surge in car theft over the last 12 months, has recorded a 17.5 per cent increase.
Eight countermeasures are listed by at the end of the web-enabled survey to help the user keep his or her car safe. Users can check it out through Budget Direct's website.
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