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Car Gadgets Are Easy Pickings

British motorists are easy picking for thieves, with a careless attitude towards leaving gadgets in their cars, according to online car insurer, swiftcover.com.

A recent survey of motorists found that despite the well-documented risks, a massive 96 per cent of British motorists regularly leave gadgets in their cars, with one in three leaving them in full view on the seat or dashboard.  As a result, more than a fifth (21%) have had their cars broken into and their gadgets stolen.

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In response, swiftcover.com, the UK’s only dedicated online insurance company, has today launched a new insurance cover, offering motorists the option to cover their in-car gadgets when they buy car insurance.

“Sat navs, MP3 players, mobile phones and digital cameras are a thief’s dream,” says Tina Shortle, marketing director of swiftcover.com. “They are easy to snatch, easy to conceal and because they are desirable items, easy to sell on. A thief could be in a car and away with a pocketful of expensive kit within seconds. It’s a bonanza for our light-fingered foes.”

“We strongly urge drivers to take 30 seconds to check their vehicle and to lock their gadgets in the glove box or boot when parking, even when leaving their car unattended at a petrol station.  This little routine will ensure no gadget is visible,” Shortle said.

The research mirrors official police statistics which reveal a huge rise in gadget theft from cars.  According to the Metropolitan Police, the theft of sat navs from cars in London alone more than doubled (up 154%) between April 2006 and April 2007. Nationally, the British Crime Survey showed that there were over 1.2 million reported thefts from vehicles in 2005-6 and over seven per cent of vehicle-owning households experienced some type of vehicle-related theft.

For £28.50 for a year, swiftcover.com’s gadget cover includes theft and damage to gadgets in vehicles, providing a replacement if the item is stolen or damaged accidentally whilst within a car.  Items covered include mobile phones, PDAs, satellite navigation systems, MP3 players, safety camera locators, portable games consoles, digital cameras, camcorders and portable DVD players.

Traditional insurers which cover gadgets require proof of purchase prior to insuring an item, however swiftcover.com covers an unlimited number of gadgets, with customers only requiring proof of purchase when making a claim.  Therefore it is vital to keep receipts, especially as swiftcover.com’s survey found that only 26 per cent of British consumers keep proof of purchase of their gadgets.

Unsurprisingly, the theft of gadgets from cars is proving to be a costly business for consumers. Britons are Europe’s biggest spenders on gadgets, splashing out more than £11 billion (or £230 per adult) per year. With the latest iphone costing around £270, a basic TomTom costing £120 and a Palm Pilot costing around £230, just one opportunistic break-in can set consumers back by hundreds of pounds.

The survey found that mobile phones are the most popular in-car gadget (98%), while 35% regularly keep an MP3 player in their car; 38% have a satellite navigation system, 42% keep a digital camera and 15% keep a DVD player in their car.

The research also identified that people are confused when it comes to insurance for their gadgets.  40 per cent of UK drivers said they were unsure if their home or car insurance covers them for gadget theft or damage.

The research was carried out via Survey Monkey in March 2008 and polled 917 consumers throughout the UK.

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• Car Insurance Guide