Washington ranks 4th in the top states for vehicle thefts, and over 700,000 U.S. are cars stolen yearly. July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month, and Mosaic Insurance has tips on avoiding car prowlers, what do to if it happens, and understanding theft insurance.
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Paul Pukis
Mosaic Insurance Alliance, LLC.
425-320-4263
Paul@mosaicia.com
Lynnwood, Washington: Mosaic Insurance Alliance knows that summer has proven time and time again to be the top season for car theft and break-ins. July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month to bring awareness to this trend, and to give tips to help avoid it in the future.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, car theft has decreased each year over the last three decades, and between now and the early 1990s, it has decreased over 55%. But, even with that decrease, there is still a significant number of cars being stolen in the United States—averages of one car every 40.9 seconds, 2,118 each day, and over 700,000 yearly. Also, Washington ranks 4th in the top states for vehicle thefts. It is also important to know that with the coronavirus, the FBI states that there has been a significant increase in theft of all kinds, and news stations across the country have reported that motor vehicle theft has skyrocketed.
What solidifies the statistics even more is the observation that even if someone has not been a victim of a car theft or car break-in, they probably know someone who has. Criminals will always exist, but there are tips, like the ones below, that can help keep cars from being targeted by them.
Common things that car prowlers look for include: secluded and dark areas; no cameras; little/no witnesses; visible items to steal; owners who have predictable routines; cars that have been sitting in an area for a while; vehicles that are deemed easier to break into and/or steal; and cars that have damages to things like windows and doors, expensive items in sight (i.e. stereos, phones, purses, etc.), easily removable parts and/or upgraded parts. (i.e. new stereos, external spare tires, seats, batteries, etc.), and large gas tanks. The reason thieves target large gas tanks is gas siphoning, which is not as big as it was in the 1970s, but it is not as uncommon today as many think. When gas prices rise, like in the summertime, there is typically a rise in gas theft. Owners who have cars with large gas tanks might want to invest in a locking gas cap. In addition to avoiding losing money from the lost fuel, a gas cap can help owners avoid expensive damages to their car. But, it is also important to know that there is a newer method for siphoning that gas caps cannot protect against—instead of inserting hoses through the gas tank entrance, thieves are drilling holes in the gas hoses and tanks of cars, which causes very expensive damage and is a fire explosion threat.
There are steps people can take to avoid being a victim of car theft. As researched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), statistics show that “nearly half of yearly thefts are due to driver error.” To protect your car, use audible and visible deterrent devices (i.e. car alarms, steering wheel locks, brake locks, tire clamps, etc.); park in “safer” areas (good lighting, decently populated, security cameras, low crime rates, etc.); do not leave keys in a car; do not leave a car running; roll up all windows and lock all doors; make sure all doors are closed properly; do not leave valuables in a car; keep cars clean; fix damages to a car ASAP (i.e. broken windows); and use a garage at home.
In regards to insurance coverage, there are some insurance policies that will cover car theft and break-ins. Most comprehensive (comp) coverage policies, and full coverage policies (comp and collision), will cover damages to a car from a break-in or theft. Comp coverage should also cover actual cash value (ACV) minus the deductible of a car if it was stolen and never recovered. Some factors that are considered for ACV include: pre-loss condition, age, mileage, make, model, year, etc.
Some damaged/stolen items that car insurance is known to cover include windows, engines, batteries, doors, seats, gas tanks, etc. Car insurance only covers attached equipment to the car that is not easily removable, so it will NOT cover personal items. When it comes to personal items that are stolen or damaged, a home insurance policy might cover the loss. Speak to Mosaic Insurance about what is covered under a policy and about getting the right coverage limits. (Getting the right coverage limits is important since high losses might result in insufficient insurance coverage for covered losses, making it so that a victim of theft will have to cover excessive damages out-of-pocket.)
If someone has their car stolen or broken into, they should call police immediately; file a police report and get a copy of it; include information about what was stolen and its value in the police report; get the case number and the names of the responding officers; see if there are witnesses and/or camera footage; provide police with any video or picture evidence of the crime; keep police updated on new information; and contact their auto insurance company (within 24 hours). If their car receives excessive damages, it is recommended to have it inspected by a mechanic and to provide vehicle damage quotes to the police and insurance company. If their car is recovered, they need to tell their insurance company immediately; and if they find their car before police do, they need to tell police immediately.
If someone ever has to file a claim, Mosaic Insurance Alliance will be there to answer questions and help them find solutions so that the process will go as smooth as possible. To contact Mosaic Insurance Alliance, call their main line at 425-320-4280, or email at: info@mosaicia.com.
Contact Info:
Name: Paul Pukis
Email: Send Email
Organization: Mosaic Insurance Alliance
Address: 2122 164th St SW Ste 301, Lynnwood, WA 98087, United States
Phone: +1-425-320-4280
Website: http://www.mosaicia.com
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 88969999
