By BRIDGET COOK
THREE Casey suburbs have been revealed as vehicle theft hotspots.
A new analysis of RACV Insurance claims data has revealed where vehicles are being stolen across Melbourne.
Narre Warren, Cranbourne and Berwick all featured in the top 20 worst suburbs for car thefts, with an average of 11 claims made by RACV members in 2012.
RACV general manager insurance Paul Northey said on average 17 RACV members living in metropolitan Melbourne were the victims of car theft every week.
“Residents should ensure that they always lock their vehicle before leaving it unattended, even for a short time,” he said.
“While some areas may have a higher number of theft claims than others, it doesn’t mean people can drop their guard.
“Most vehicles were reported stolen between 6am and 6pm, and this is an important reminder that thieves are opportunistic and will strike anywhere.”With the average vehicle theft claim costing $8000, Mr Northey encouraged motorists to check they were adequately covered for the cost of replacing their vehicle or repairing the damage from an attempted theft.
“While having a vehicle stolen causes a major inconvenience, not having adequate insurance cover can compound this by creating unnecessary financial stress,” he said.
RACV has offered motorists a number of theft prevention tips including to always lock the car and close windows, remove valuables or ensure they are out of sight, park in a well-lit, busy area where possible, fit the car with an engine immobiliser and lock the car when paying for fuel.
Motorists were also urged to not leave correspondence with their address on it in the car or have their home address on the car keys as it can lead thieves back to the house.
