Using your car as a cupboard is a security risk

Most car owners don’t think twice about storing personal items, clothing and other valuables in their vehicles, but using your car as cupboard is a security risk.

“When you leave your possessions in full view, you increase the chances of your car being broken into. The mere glimpse of a bottle of perfume or a pair of gym trainers on the backseat can be enough to entice a thief to action. Even when you are driving, you run the risk of a smash and grab if you leave valuables lying on your car seats,” warns Robyn Farrell, managing director of 1st for Women Insurance Brokers.

According to Farrell, research by another women-only insurer in the UK revealed that more than a quarter (27%) of vehicle-owners regularly keep a change of clothing in their vehicles.

“Although South Africans are a little more wary of leaving valuable stuff in their cars, thanks to the rate of hijacking, smash-and-grabs and vehicle theft in this country, many still do it.

“There are those who leave sporting and hobby items such as squash racquets, tog bags and golf clubs in their cars and those who do daringly go as far as to leave laptops, iPods and other more expensive possessions in the boot, or worse, on the seat,” says Farrell.

She goes on to say that storing golf clubs, laptops, clothing and other valuables in your boot – even if hidden – is risky.

“If your car happens to be broken into for something less valuable lying on your front seat, there’s a big chance that the thieves will find the rest of the loot in the boot. And, if your car is stolen everything that you had stored in your boot will go with it.

“Obviously, we can’t always avoid ferrying items of value in our cars. When we go on holiday, our cars are packed to the brim with clothes and other holiday essentials and, many of us need to carry laptops, cameras and other such items with us each day for work purposes. The key is to only carry what is necessary and then empty your car once you get home. There’s no point leaving your expensive golf clubs in your boot if you aren’t going to be using them for another three weeks.

“Another important thing to consider is insurance cover for the portable possessions that you carry with you on a regular basis. Items such as your laptop, iPod, camera, jewelry and even CDs can be included under the portable possessions section of your household insurance. If you have adequate insurance, you can rest assured that if your car is broken into or stolen, you will be covered for whatever was inside,” says Farrell.

1st For Women offers this advice:

• Do not leave items of value lying in full view on car seats. Always make sure that your possessions are safely locked away in the boot when you are driving and whenever your car is parked in a public area.
• Park your car in a secure parking lot where there are lots of other vehicles.
• Lock your car when driving and when leaving it parked.
• Empty your car at the end of each day to avoid it becoming cluttered with stuff that could be eye candy to a criminal.
• Install window safety film.
• Ensure that you have adequate insurance cover on items you carry with you on a regular basis.