Car thieves resort to violence to get their rewards

As car security has improved, with immobilisers and an array of other anti theft devices now fitted as standard in many new cars, thieves are resorting to violence to get hold of the vehicles they need to sell on and make cash. A study has shown that there are around 10,000 car jacking incidents every year in the UK. This figure was based on research by the National Audit Office who found that 4% of car crimes in the Manchester area had been car jackings. The figure for the total number of cases of vehicle crime in 2003/2004 was more than 2 million.

Car jackers are becoming increasingly frustrated by the new security features fitted in cars and are now happily resorting to this dangerous and frightening method of seizing cars. In a car jacking the thief forces the driver to hand over the keys to their car. Weapons are often involved and several people have been killed and injured as a result. This type of car crime is often organised and carried out by gangs who may target a particular area, stealing lots of cars in one go.

The Home Office must work with car manufacturers to find new ways of stopping car criminals from stealing cars in this way. It may be difficult to create practical measures of foiling the criminals as they are willing to use force to get what they’re after.

One tactic employed by the car jackers is to deliberately cause a car accident by bumping a car from behind, when the owner gets out to check the damage an armed gang will jump in the car and drive off. Other jackers will choose the vehicle they want to steal, wait for its owner to return and then force them to hand over the keys.

Car crime of this kind is not only dangerous and very frightening it also helps to drive up the cost of motoring. Car insurance premiums rise in relation to car crime and the honest motorist has to pay the price. With many ruthless criminals now operating in such contemptible manner, prepared to face their victim and employ violence, it may be very difficult to curb the long term cost of car crime.

webmaster@hootcarinsurance.co.uk

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