PIAM: 50 VEHICLES REPORTED STOLEN DAILY

Kuala Lumpur, 1 March 2002 -- In 2001, 50 vehicles were reported stolen every day, resulting in insurers paying over RM1 million a day in vehicle theft claims.

Insurers paid out a total of RM 368 million for motor vehicle theft claims in 2001 - its highest ever. This also represents an eight (8) per cent increase from the previous year's motor theft claims of RM340 million.

The total number of claims for 2001 was 18,450, of which 12,100 were for motorcycles, 5,215 for private cars and 1,091 for goods vehicles. The average claim incurred for private cars was RM52,996 versus RM40,333 for commercial vehicles and RM 3,743 for motorcycles.

Four-wheel drive pick-up trucks are high on the target list for car thieves and include Ford Ranger, Ford Courier, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu Rodeo and Mitsubishi Storm. A total of 265 Ford Rangers and Ford Couriers were reported stolen to insurers in 2001, constituting seven (7) per cent of the total private vehicle claims or RM18.8 million.

According to PIAM's statistics, the Subang area in Selangor had the worst vehicle theft experience in the country with 290 motorcycles, 537 private cars and 92 commercial vehicles totaling RM33.9 million in claims. The findings also revealed that 68 per cent (2,829) of the state's total motorcycle thefts incurred in the Shah Alam area.

The General Insurance Association of Malaysia's (PIAM) Executive Director Lim Chia Fook cautioned owners to take extra security precautions with their vehicles as vehicle thefts are still rampant.

To deter vehicle thefts, PIAM recommended simple precautionary measures that can be taken including avoiding parking lots with per entry charges, not leaving your parking ticket in the car, using mechanical anti-theft devices such as steering and gear locks as well as electronic anti-theft devices such as immobilisers. Lim also advised consumers to inform their insurance companies of the theft immediately after making a police report.

"While the increased efforts by the police have uncovered several theft syndicates and have led to the recovery of 2,804 stolen vehicles in 2001 consisting 2,033 motorcycles and 685 private cars, there is still much to be done to curb this crime," said Lim.

On this front, Lim added that the industry's Theft Task Force is currently working closely and sharing information with the police as part of its initiatives to reduce the number of thefts and number of stolen vehicles leaving the country as well as expedite the return of vehicles to their rightful owners.

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