Cars abandoned because of the weather are being broken into by thieves and damaged by other motorists.

 

“There’s no worse Christmas gift than finding someone has left a dent or scrape on your car and not left a note to admit it,” says Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance.

 

“In one case, a customer returned to collect his car and found it completely wrecked by a much larger vehicle.”

AA Insurance has also had its first claims this winter for cars that are left to warm up with the engine running being stolen off drives.

 

“Every winter we have to deal with a spate of such thefts. There is evidence that organised criminals wait for just this kind of opportunity to steal cars, especially upmarket ones, which are otherwise almost impossible to take without the keys," said Douglas.

 

“But insurers almost always reject these claims because theft of an unattended vehicle left open with the keys in it is specifically excluded from policies.

 

Never, ever let your car warm up on your drive without being present. Far better to use de-icer and scrapers. It also uses much less fuel,” adds Douglas.