As Christmas approaches and people across the country look for hiding places for their Christmas presents, NFU Mutual warns motorists to beware of thieves breaking into vehicles in search of newly purchased goods. For those with limited space or curious family members, the car can often seem like the only place to hide gifts, but this also presents an opportunity for thieves.
Dave Rossall, Head of Motor Claims at NFU Mutual, advises motorists that the safest place to hide presents will always be in the home: “Personal effects, including Christmas presents, should be covered by your car insurance, but there are things to take into account.” He said.
“At NFU Mutual, for example, all our customers are covered for up to £250 worth of theft from their vehicle, but this does not include things like cash, cheques or vouchers, and the items will need to have been locked securely in the car. Cars are generally less secure than houses and your home insurance will include higher levels of cover than your car insurance, advice is to move gifts and valuables into the home as soon as you possibly can.
“If you do need to keep presents in the car while you are shopping, visiting family members or waiting for an opportunity to sneak them in, a good rule of thumb is to take any cash and vouchers with you immediately and keep presents locked securely in the boot. While you can claim a certain amount for stolen gifts on your motor insurance, theft will cause disruption and inconvenience and might put a dampener on your Christmas cheer.
“Ultimately, if you don’t want someone else to benefit from your Christmas shopping trip, the best thing to do is keep presents out of sight, locked away, and preferably in your home.”
NFU Mutual Motor Claims Manager Dave Rossall’s tips for storing presents safely
· Your home will likely be safer than your car, so only keep gifts in your car if you absolutely have to and do so for as short a period as possible
· Take all cash, cheques, tickets and vouchers with you immediately – these are small and more easy to sneak into the home
· Keep your car locked at all times, activating the alarm if you have one. An open car is an invitation to thieves, and will invalidate your insurance
· If you drive a convertible, you may only be covered on insurance if your items are kept in a locked boot or glove compartment
· In any case, presents are best kept locked away and out of sight if they do need to be kept in a vehicle – a locked boot or lockable glove compartment keeps items hidden and secure as they can be