Car thefts have increased by 36.5 percent across New Zealand over the past year, with a warning that lower-value cars are an easy target.
AA Insurance revealed new data on Monday showing the dramatic increase for the year to June 30, and said the rise is even higher for Auckland at 43 percent.
While vehicle collisions reduced due to the COVID-19 lockdown, they said the lockdown did little to stop car thefts, with cars parked on the street increasingly being targeted by thieves and the number of claims relating to vehicle theft increasing by 50 percent year-on-year.
AA Insurance head of motor claims Beau Paparoa said the numbers are a timely reminder for car owners to be extra vigilant about the security of their vehicles.
"With the number of ram raids increasing, particularly in Auckland, it's important to know that vehicles targeted for this activity tend to be at the lower end of the value chain, more than five years old and often parked on the street," Paparoa said.
"The increase in vehicle theft cannot solely be attributed to ram raids - we are also receiving reports about increased joyrides and cars apparently being stolen to get from A to B."
He said while AA Insurance will help customers get back on the road if their car is targeted, their claims data shows that even simple security measures like a steering wheel lock can be an effective deterrent against thieves looking for a quick smash and dash.
"Security systems and immobilisers are more expensive security options but are well worth the investment to stop thieves from targeting your vehicle, especially if it is one of the more frequently targeted models," Paparoa said.
"With theft and attempted theft clearly on the rise, AA Insurance is encouraging all Kiwis to be extra vigilant about car security, particularly if your car is routinely parked on the street."
The most frequently stolen cars according to AA Insurance claims data are the Nissan Tiida, Toyota Mark X, Toyota Aqua, Mazda Atenza, and Mazda Demio.
Here are AA Insurance's top tips to help prevent car theft:
- Always lock your car, even when parking at home
- Keep all valuables and your car keys out of sight, including away from your front and back doors at home. Thieves will now steal car keys to access new vehicles with sophisticated modern security systems
- Where possible try to park in a garage, carport or off-street
- If you have to park on the street make sure your car is under a street light or in a well-lit area
- If in a car park then use an attended, secure parking building and park close to the entrance or exit
- Install visible security such as an alarm light, immobiliser or steering wheel lock
- Know where your keys are at all times, and never leave them in your car, even at home
- Be extra vigilant over weekends and during warmer weather when there are more thefts reported.
