Limerick and Dublin residents most likely to have car vandalized

Read our latest press release below:

Findings of a new poll by AA Motor Insurance issued today suggest that Limerick and Dublin are the worst counties in the country for incidents of car vandalism.  During the poll of close to 18,000 people, conducted last month, 6% of respondents overall said that their car had been targeted by vandals at some point during the last two years. 

This figure was slightly higher among the Dublin residents polled, with 7% or 440 people, sharing that vandals had damaged their car within the last two years.  Ahead of Dublin, 9% of the Limerick respondents polled by AA Motor Insurance said that an act of vandalism had been carried out on their car.

Dublin however nosed back in front in terms of actual car break-ins.  4% of those polled in the capital said that someone had broken into their car during the same period, slightly higher than the overall average of 3% of respondents polled by the AA.

It’s certainly not all doom and gloom when it comes to vehicle thefts however according to AA Motor Insurance.  Latest available CSO figures relating to the third quarter of 2012 show that the number of reported incidents of car theft were down by 15% compared to the same quarter in 2011.  This is despite the fact that burglaries rose by 8% in 2011 to the end of September.

“It’s certainly good news to see that vehicle theft is down particularly against the back drop of a rise in burglaries.”  Says Conor Faughnan, Director of Consumer Affairs, AA Ireland.  “Typically burglaries and car theft go hand in hand as it’s near impossible to break into modern cars without the immobilizer key.  Your car is likely to be one of the most expensive items you own so try to think of the keys like other high value content in your home.  Don’t leave them somewhere obvious or easy to grab.”

Overall AA Motor Insurance reports that the increased complexity of immobilizers in modern cars has made a huge different to theft rates in recent years.  Comparing CSO data from the third quarter of 2012 with that of the third quarter of 2004 the number of reported car thefts has reduced by 41%, having a positive effect on motor insurance premiums across the board.

AA Motor Insurance tips to tackle car thieves and deter vandals:

•       Don’t be a temptation to the thief – lock your valuables in the boot
•       Park legally in a secure place
•       Lock the doors when driving
•       Park before 11.00 am for greater comfort
•       Use off street car parks
•       Lock the car! It is all too easy to forget the obvious.
•       Get into the habit of putting your car keys somewhere safe when at home.  Avoid storing them in the obvious places such as key racks or the hall table.
•       Don’t put your car keys in sight of your letter box or cat flat.

End

Notes to the editor;

Fig 1.  Theft/taking of vehicle and related offences according to the CSO Statbank: (cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=CJQ03&PLanguage=0)

*Most recent available figures.

**As far back as figures go on CSO Stat Bank site.

Fig. 2.A.  % of respondent polled via AA online poll who have experienced the following within the last two years

(Note all figures have been rounded up/down to the nearest %)

Fig. 2.B. COUNTY BY COUNTY SPLIT of no. of respondents who have experienced the following within the

last two years (Based on 16,650 responses collected w/c 14/01/2013):

(Note all figures have been rounded up/down to the nearest %)