Avoiding the van vandals

Vandalism costs British business millions of pounds every year, and it cost van drivers more every day with higher insurance premiums. Vandalism is a word that’s come to us from the German tribe the Vandal’s rampaging and ransacking of Rome, and is defined by Wikipedia as:

‘Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or vunerable. The term also includes criminal damage such as graffiti and defacement directed towards any property without permission of the owner.’

Insurers have to deal with millions of claims for vandalism every year. Damage includes everything from keying to tyre slashing. According to Liverpool Victoria Insurance, during the past year, vandals have caused a £953 million worth of damage to British vehicles, with the average cost to drivers of £260 for repairs. Liverpool Victoria found that 54% of UK motorists have been the victim of vandalism and as many as one in ten has experienced this type of crime in the past 12 months.

Thankfully, even if vandalism is common, it’s not a growing problem. British Crime Survey statistics have shown there’s little change in the amount of vandalism being reported and there’s no change in the level of concern for vandalism among the public, between 2009 and 2010. If anything vandalism is decreasing but it still causes expense and distress if it happens to you.

Vandalism may seem random, but some patterns have emerged from crime statistics and claims data from insurers, that tell us a little more about it, given vandalism is opportunistic and random.

The three most common types of vandalism to vehicles are:

1. Scratching or keying – 43% of all acts of vandalism against vehicles are scratches

2. Damage to wing mirrors – 23%

3. Smashed windows and windscreens – 21%

And if you were thinking keeping your van in your driveway to keep it out of trouble, the answer may not be quite as simple as the four most common places for vandalism to occur are:

1. Street outside home with street lights 38%

2. Car park with lighting 15%

3. Street in town centre with street lights 11%

4. Driveway 11%

Vandalism seems pretty hard to avoid.  The RAC have published a list of tips to avoid vehicle theft which go some way to help you avoid vandalism. They’re not rocket science, but worth remembering:

1. Always lock your van – don’t leave it open, even for a minute and never leave the keys in the ignition or the engine running

2. Choose the right place to park – lighting isn’t much of a deterrent as the statistics above show, so don’t park where your van or car is out of sight

3. Don’t leave valuables in sight – put them away

4. Take your stereo and GPS with you when you leave the car

Most van insurers cover damage as a result of vandalism. It’s worth checking your policy to make sure you are covered, what you are covered for and if there are any exclusions. Advisors here at ConstrucatQuote can help you find the right insurance policy for your needs, including cover for any tools or valuables left in your van, getting a quote is easy – call or click.