Car crime affected more than one in four UK motorists during the last 12 months, according to new data from the RAC.
As part of the latest RAC Report on Motoring, the breakdown organisation questioned British drivers about their experiences of vehicle crime throughout the previous year.
Some 26 percent said they had been a victim of car crime, including offences such as theft or vandalism.
For those living in towns and cities, this figure increased to almost half (46 percent) of respondents.
By comparison, only 15 percent of those who live in rural locations said the same. One in five (20 percent) of suburban respondents said they had been a victim of vehicle crime.
Rural drivers most worried about car crime
Almost a fifth (19 percent) of those in towns had seen their car deliberately vandalised during the last year, and 13 percent had items stolen from their vehicle. Only seven and two percent of those in the countryside experienced the same issues, respectively.
Despite motorists in rural areas experiencing a much lower level of vehicle crime, they have the same or a greater fear of being targeted by criminals.
Some 38 percent of rural drivers admitted worrying about the risk of vehicle theft – the same proportion as urban motorists.
And 39 percent of those in the countryside were concerned about their car being vandalised. Only 34 percent of urban dwellers had the same concern.
Rural drivers are also more anxious about drivers not leaving a note following a collision. More than a third (34 percent) had this concern, versus 18 percent of people living in a city.
A contributor to higher insurance costs
Simon Williams, RAC Insurance spokesperson, said: “It’s very worrying to see so many drivers have experienced some form of vehicle crime over a 12-month period. Having a vehicle vandalised is both unbelievably annoying and expensive, but having one stolen is a horrible violation. It’s also incredibly stressful to resolve and inconvenient to cope with, given how important cars are to our daily lives.
“Every criminal incident like this contributes to the average cost of car insurance, which has already risen in recent years due to the higher costs of parts and labour, and the increasing complexity of modern vehicles. Having to claim on your insurance because of something you’ve accidentally done yourself is one thing, but when it’s because of mindless, deliberate vandalism, it’s beyond frustrating, not least because it will inevitably result in higher future premiums
“It’s little wonder why the cost of insuring a vehicle was named the second biggest motoring frustration in our annual Report on Motoring research, with 29 percent of drivers saying it was one of their top concerns.”
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