Protecting Against Car Prowler ``Grinches'' During the Holiday Season; PEMCO Insurance Advises Shoppers to Choose Parking Wisely and Keep Gifts Covered
SEATTLE--Dec. 17, 2002--With only eight days left in the holiday shopping season, PEMCO Insurance reminds shoppers to be aware of car prowling "Grinches" who can ruin a Christmas morning by breaking into shoppers' cars to steal gifts.Hordes of shoppers whisking from store to store, filling up backseats with valuable merchandise, can unwittingly trigger a rise in car prowls. And victims lose more than just the cost of their purchases.
"Some gifts may be irreplaceable or not available until after Christmas," said Jon Osterberg, spokesperson for PEMCO Insurance. "Victims lose not only their gifts -- they lose peace of mind, and they get stressed out. Having your car burglarized is a huge hassle and inconvenience."
Taking a few simple precautions can provide loads of protection during holiday shopping. Follow the tips below to reduce the chances of a car prowl and limit your losses.
Holiday Car Prowling Prevention Tips:
| -- | Always roll up windows and double check that doors are locked. Don't make it easy for a casual thief to take your possessions or gifts. |
| -- | Park in a well-lit area, and use parking lots frequented by others. A prowl attempt is more likely in darkened or secluded areas. Avoid parking behind fences or hedges. |
| -- | Put all valuables and gifts in your trunk. If this is not possible, cover gifts and other valuables with a blanket. A car prowler will almost always look inside a car for valuables before risking a break-in, and keeping valuables out of sight will reduce your risk. |
| -- | After opening an automatic gate to underground parking, wait for the gate to close and watch out for thieves waiting to slip in behind you before parking. |
| -- | Avoid parking in attended lots. They're a major source of copied keys, which can be used later to steal your vehicle. |
| -- | If you must park in an attended lot, leave only a concierge key with the attendant. Keep valuables and all materials that could be used for identity theft, vehicle theft, or burglarizing your residence in a locked area that cannot be opened with the concierge key. Again, hide gifts and valuables under cover in your trunk. |
| -- | Try not to unload gifts and then leave a car unattended in the same parking spot. Car prowlers can be on the lookout for shoppers traveling back and forth from stores to unload gifts. |
| -- | If you don't park in a secure garage at home, don't leave gifts in cars overnight to keep them secret. Plan some way to move them inside undetected, or have your gifts wrapped before you bring them home. |
| -- | Never leave your car running unattended. Vehicles are commonly stolen at ATMs, convenience stores, etc. |
If your car is broken into:
-- Inventory missing articles for later use with the police or an
insurance claim.
-- Call the police and file a report. Consider whether
surveillance cameras are present. These could identify the
individual or individuals involved. Even if there is little
chance of catching the suspect, alerting the police can help
prevent somebody else's car from being prowled.
These tips on protecting against holiday car prowlers appear on the PEMCO Web site (www.pemco.com) along with other useful consumer and insurance tips.
PEMCO Insurance, established in 1949, is a Seattle-based provider of auto, home, boat, life and umbrella insurance to Washington residents. PEMCO Insurance is sold by community agents throughout the state, as well as through PEMCO offices. For more information, visit www.pemco.com.