When you park your car and click your remote to lock, you probably don’t give the action a second thought… We place a lot of trust in that plastic remote, and criminals know this.
Car jamming happens when criminals prevent your car from locking by using a modified remote to override yours to steal your property. This has become such a common occurrence that many shopping centres, filling stations and public parking areas now warn customers about the possibility.
While car and household contents insurance is essential to protect your hard-earned property against loss or damage caused by theft, many insurers in South Africa don’t cover car jamming, as it is not considered ‘forcible entry’. Fortunately, a few quick and simple safety tactics can greatly reduce your odds of becoming a target or lessen the consequences:
- Be vigilant when parking your car. Take note of any people in the vicinity, and try to park in well-lit and populated areas.
- Make sure you watch and hear the locks engage when you press the lock button on your remote and physically test the doors for good measure.
- Many people carry a laptop or other electronics in their vehicles and criminals are well aware of this. Always back up your hard drive, make sure you have a password in place, and never store your banking details in a file that can be found on your device.
- It’s better to take expensive electronics with you when you leave your car; you may attract the attention of criminals if they see you loading gear into the boot.
For other hints and tips for your insurance, visit http://www.standardbank.co.za/standardbank/Personal/Insuring/Car-and-home-insurance/Car-and-househol...