 |
 |
 |
|
Myths and Realities of Vehicle Theft
Myth
I lock my car doors, which is enough to protect my car from getting stolen.
Reality
Although locking car doors is great common sense, that alone is not enough to protect your car from being stolen. Police agencies and ICBC recommend a layered approach to protection as the most practical way to make your vehicle tough to steal. For more information on auto-theft devices and tips go to http://www.icbc.com/crime-fraud/autocr_antith.asp.
Myth
“There is nothing I can do. If someone wants to steal my car, they will get it.”
Reality
Vehicle theft is preventable! By taking a few extra precautions to secure your vehicle, you can make it more difficult for a thief to steal. Research shows that thieves are looking for easy targets with little or no risks of being detected. If your vehicle is secured with several layers of protection and at least one visible theft deterrent device, thieves will most likely target a different vehicle.
Myth
I’ll only be away from my car for a moment and besides – besides it’s so hot what will hurt if I leave my car running while I run into the convenient store (or dry cleaners, or gas station)?
Reality
Vehicle theft is often a crime of opportunity. NEVER leave your vehicle running and unattended with the keys in the ignition, not even a minute.
Myth
“No one would steal my old car. And if it was stolen it would just be used for joyriding anyway.”
Reality
Most stolen vehicles tend to be a few years old that can easily be broken in to and then used to commit other crimes. It is estimated that 10-15 per cent of thefts are for parts or resale and are primarily committed by organized crime groups. The remainder of vehicle thefts is used for the commission of other crimes and joyriding.
Myth
“If my car is stolen, my insurance company will pay the cost.”
Reality
Although you may have insurance coverage on your car, you will have a deductible to pay. You no doubt will face out-of-pocket expenses and hassles in finding a new vehicle or if your car is returned you may not know the extent of abuse it endured when being driven by the thieves. In addition, the value of your vehicle depreciates with age. If your vehicle is stolen and fully covered for theft, you will only receive the depreciated value, not the cost to replace the vehicle. We all pay the costs through higher insurance. Annual insurance costs of vehicle thefts in British Columbia is in the millions of dollars. In 2006 there were approximately 17,000 vehicles reported stolen to ICBC. And one more point to consider – your stolen vehicle may be used to commit other crimes and/or injure an innocent person.
—[ back to top ]—
