Where Do You Live?

By Author: Marcus Stalder
Total Articles: 491
Comment this article

There's a worldwide trend for the wealthy to buy into gated communities. The idea is simple. First you surround yourself with a wall, install state-of-the-art security systems, and employ guards. Then you put in all the amenities you need for everyday living from swimming pools and tennis courts, to spas, some shops and on-site dining. Finally, you price the entire venture so that only other wealthy people can access these mini fortresses. To reverse the end of the roll call sequence in Hill Street Blues, they all want to stay safe in there.

The rest of us have to live in the real world where, sadly, there's a fair amount of crime involving vehicles. The effect of this theft and vandalism is not limited to insurance. As word of the culture spreads, people with a choice in where they live, vote with their feet (or wheels, if you prefer). From the local government's point of view, this is a disaster. It's their responsibility to provide a safe place for people to live and businesses to thrive. If people resist moving into an area or take every chance to leave, this does not create a good local economy. The take from local ...
... taxes falls. With less money to spend on the community, maintenance and repair work is delayed, there's less money to spend on local schools, and so on. It becomes a vicious circle. As the neighborhood runs down, only the poor and desperate remain. Often this signals a further increase in crime.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) runs a website showing you exactly how many vehicles are stollen in every state. Although the general pattern of vehicle thefts is declining, you should definitely avoid Texas and California. They are lucky enough to hold the top five hot spots for theft. And then we get to Las Vegas, Albuquerque and other cities where leaving your vehicle unattended is an invitation to thieves. So, if you are going to drive into these areas, what should you do?

Really, it's all basic common sense. Although prayer is often credit with power, it's easier to take the keys out of the vehicle, close all the windows and lock the doors. If this is night parking, always pick somewhere well lit and with a reasonable number of people around. Fit an alarm. Even better, fit visible locks on the steering wheel and brakes. If you can afford to buy the right vehicle or fit an immobilizing device, this reduces your premium as does VIN etching and any other visible marking on the vehicle. The NICB website has a list of the theft deterrent and tracking devices that produce discounts and so deliver cheap auto insurance. Obviously, it's not always possible to move away from a vehicle theft hot spot but, if you can, pick an area with a ZIP code showing low theft rates. That way, the investment in relocating will deliver cheap auto insurance. This may not be a fair system, but this is how it works. Play the game and get cheaper insurance.