THREE MILLION* CAR OWNERS AT RISK OF ID THEFT

• One-in-ten car owners regularly leave bills and bank statements in their car
  
• A fifth of car owners display more than £150 of valuables in their car

Research** from Direct Line Car Insurance reveals that one-in-ten British car owners are putting themselves at risk of identity theft by forgetting to remove sensitive documents such as bills and statements from the view of opportunistic thieves. Indeed, a further 12 per cent admit to having more than £350 worth of valuables in full view on either the front or rear seats of the car. Yet, despite the fact that British cars seem to be potential goldmines for thieves, seven per cent of car owners admit they forget to clear their car seats and six per cent admit they sometimes forget to lock their car altogether.

Jennifer Culley, spokesperson for Direct Line Car Insurance comments: “Car owners need to think twice before they lock up and walk away from their vehicles to ensure they are not leaving valuables or sensitive documents on display. With the rise in cases of identity fraud over recent years, motorists should avoid giving thieves further opportunities to obtain personal details which can be found on bills, bank statements and letters. “Our advice is to avoid keeping valuables and sensitive documents in the car or take your possessions with you when you leave your car unattended.”

The most likely items to be left on show include:
1. Clothes for the office (17 per cent)
2. Sports equipment (13 per cent)
3. Letters, bills, statements (10 per cent)
4. Work files (10 per cent)
5. Mobile phone (10 per cent)
6. iPod / MP3 player (4 per cent)
7. Laptop (2 per cent)

The study also highlights how many car owners have the tendency to treat their car as a second home, with 17 per cent keeping clothes for the office in the car and a further 13 per cent storing sports equipment, such as tennis rackets, gym kit and footballs.

Direct Line’s Top Five Tips on Car Security
1. Get a stereo you can remove and take with you
2. Invest in a steering wheel or handbrake lock, for as little as £20
3. Park in a busy, well-lit place or in secure parking
4. Lock doors and close windows when leaving the car or making slow progress in traffic – it only takes a few seconds at a red traffic light for a thief to spot an opportunity
5. Never leave keys in the car and don’t leave possessions in the car – especially valuables.

Some of the best insurance deals for you Mini can be found on our website at www.britishminiclub.co.uk