Rise in car theft claims following household burglaries

An increasing number of motor insurance claims are being filed due to burglars swiping car keys after robbing a home.

Car insurance claims are increasingly being filed following instances of vehicle theft after a household burglary, according to new research.

AA Insurance reports that although overall rates of car theft fell 14 per cent in 2008-09, the number of automobiles stolen after a home has been burgled has risen by nearly one-fifth (19 per cent).

Some 19,400 vehicles have been stolen in this manner, with subsequent claims on such British insurance predicted to be worth £194 million.

"A common tactic for thieves is to take keys off hall tables or from convenient key racks near the door, simply by 'fishing' for them with a pole through the letterbox," Simon Douglas, director of the insurance provider, states.

Those looking to avoiding making home insurance claims - as well as that of car cover - following a burglary may want to consider advice to ensure keys are kept in a secure place and ground floor doors and windows are locked and bolted.

In addition, cars should be kept in a locked garage and a vehicle should not be unattended with the keys left in.

This advice could prove helpful as a recent Sainsbury's study showed the average price of car cover currently stands at £612.84, a rise of 11.25 per cent from last October.

By Nate Sawyer