The available data of the insurance company Gjensidige Latvija show that in the first half of 2022, half as many car theft compensation applications were registered as in the first half of 2021.
According to statistical data collected by Gjensidige Latvija, BMW brand cars come into the hands of Latvian junkyards most often, but Mercedes, Audi and Toyota are also not far behind.
“It must be said that in terms of car manufacturers, Garnaji are not very picky. We have observed that BMW cars are the most popular among criminal circles, but Mercedes, Audi and Toyota vehicles are just as good for car thieves. The data available to us shows that the cars desired by gangsters change periodically according to which car brand and its parts are in greater demand in criminal circles at that moment. For example, a couple of years ago Toyota Avensis cars were stolen very often,” explains Gjensidige Latvia representative Kristaps Bičevskis.
The data available to the insurer show that in the first half of 2021, vehicles manufactured in 2012 were more popular among criminal circles, but newer cars were also in demand. Namely, these are vehicles manufactured in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Although a stolen car is a great source of income for gargantuans, hijacking it requires a lot of effort. Mostly, thieves stick to a faster and easier way of making a profit – the theft of spare parts. Their value and demand play an important role in the process of stealing coveted spare parts. The data available in Gjensidige Latvia show that the spare parts that are most attractive to cranes are those whose disassembly does not require a lot of time and effort. The external parts of the car that can be quickly dismantled, such as mirrors and headlights, as well as decorative car trims, suffer most often. Thieves rarely choose to break into the interior of a car, but if they do get into it, the steering wheels, airbags, as well as the electronics found in the interior are most often stolen.
Also, the statistics of the insurer show that the most frequent thefts take place in the most populated areas, where the actions of thieves are not so easily noticed. The places where the most expensive and newest cars are found are particularly attractive to Garnages. In recent years, the most frequently visited areas by thieves are Riga and its district, Mārupe, Babīte and private villages around Riga.
How to protect your car against car thieves?
In order to avoid unnecessary headaches, Gjensidige Latvia has compiled preventive tips that will help you protect your iron rumak from the claws of a thief. First of all, it is important to pay attention to how the car is parked. Namely, it should be placed in a well-lit area and it should have locked doors and closed windows. In addition, the car key and spare key must not be left in the car interior or nearby. Also, make sure that nothing valuable and attractive to thieves is left in the car interior, such as a laptop, smartphone, navigation device or any other valuable electronic item.
Secondly, even if the thief managed to get into the vehicle, modern technologies offer to equip the car with anti-theft systems. One of them is the immobilization system, which will suffocate the car after only a few meters if it is started driving without a key. It is also possible to install a tracking system that will allow you to determine the car’s location by GPS coordinates or the usual car alarm system, which will sound a loud signal that someone has broken into your car.
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