How a messy breakup could cost you more than £600 – and leave your beloved car in tatters
Car vandalism is costing British motorists as much as £1.9 billion each year. And scorned lovers are among those responsible for the damage
CAR lovers beware: If you are on the verge of a relationship break down with your significant other, you may want to think twice about how you handle the situation.
Motor vandalism is costing British drivers a whopping £1.9 billion each year - and a new study has found scorned ex-partners are among those responsible.
Of the three million cases reported in a 12-month period, 41 per cent of victims who had their car damaged claimed to know who did the crime, with current and ex-partners among the prime suspects.
According to the study by Churchill Car Insurance, angry lovers are seeking revenge for their broken hearts by breaking their former flame's car windows, keying the paintwork or spray painting not-so-sweet nothings on the exterior, with as many as 10 per cent of vandalism cases being identified as a crime of passion.
Passion can swiftly turn to pain for the dysfunctional couple, as an average of £661 worth of damage is done in each case.
Vandals found guilty of causing less than £5,000 of damage to a car could see themselves hit with a £2,500 fine or three months imprisonment - leaving them plenty of time to reconsider their breakup coping mechanisms.
Victims also came forward to accuse neighbours of wrecking their beloved motor, with at least one in 10 reported cases being put down to a residential dispute.
Not surprisingly, the rise in online prank videos has seen as many as one in eight cars damaged for the sake of a viral clips, while police still claim that reckless teens are the most likely perpetrators of vandalism, making up 21 per cent of cases in 2017.
The study also found motorists were more likely to have their cars vandalised depending on where they lived.
Plymouth proved the most risky place to live for car owners, with more than a quarter of inhabitants having reported damage to their vehicle.
Sheffield also saw 25 per cent of cars damaged, while the capital cities of London, Edinburgh and Belfast all reported a high risk of the crime.
Car vandalism rose by 9.5 per cent from 2016 to 2017.
And that statistic could be even higher, as Churchill Car Insurance claimed that as many as 34 per cent of victims did not report the damage to police.
Steve Barrett, head of Car Insurance at Churchill, said: "A moment of anger or mindlessness on the part of the vandal can cause victims long-lasting stress and worry and, as our research shows, can cost motorists dear.
"It’s an extremely unfair act and while not all cases will result in a conviction, we strongly advise victims report vandalism to the police.
"If repairs aren’t made to even small scratches and dents, the condition of the vehicle will deteriorate which could significantly impact the resale value."