Auto Car Thefts » Auto
theft Myths
Myth 1
It won’t happen to me.
On average, one in every 70
Australian households had a vehicle stolen in the past 12
months. It could happen to you
Myth 2
No one would want to steal
my old bomb
59 per cent of vehicles stolen
in Gold Coast City are more than ten years old so your old
bomb is at more risk than many other cars if it does not
have quality security devices fitted.
Myth 3
My car is insured so it doesn’t
matter if it’s stolen
Research shows that victims
of car theft incur approximately $7000 in out-of-pocket
expenses.
These costs include: damage
or losses above insured value; up-front excess payments;
loss of uninsured contents such as work tools, sporting
gear or stereo equipment; and lost work time due to lack
of alternative transport. This amount does not include:
psychological impacts of being a victim of crime; the loss
of sentimental personal items; or the cost of other crimes/accidents
committed using the car.
Myth 4
If thieves want my car they’ll
get in no matter what I do so I may as well not bother.
Leaving your car unlocked to
avoid damage is misguided and unsafe – you may inadvertently
attract car thieves or facilitate other serious crimes.
Opportunistic car thieves take advantage of easy targets
and will usually be deterred easily by security measures.