Easy ride for car thieves as motorists attempt to avoid congestion charges

Leading motor insurance broker InsureYourMotor.com suggests that outer London locations will become huge car parks, as motorists leave their cars and take to the Underground in a bid to avoid congestion charges. As the deadline for congestion charges rapidly approaches several London Boroughs are bracing themselves for a huge influx of additional traffic as out of town drivers frantically search for parking spaces close to Central Line tube stations. Areas near stations such as Clapham, Brixton and Hounslow will become car parks for county commuters and those unwilling to pay the obligatory £5 tax, due to be imposed next week (Feb17th). If Ken Livingstone’s predictions are correct then an extra 20,000 cars a day will be deterred from the central London zone. However, independent surveys have suggested that far more motorists than this will be persuaded to abandon cars outside the region. Figures have indicated that some 68% would avoid the central London area. Potentially this is going to cause massive problems with congestion in these already busy boroughs and increase overcrowding on already jam-packed trains. Further to these inconveniences, InsureYourMotor.com predicts a significant increase in car crime. David Harlow InsureYourMotor’s M.D explains: “Motorists may think that by dumping their cars on the edges of the congestion charge zone they are being clever. But beware, car thieves are already rubbing their hands together at the prospect of thousands of additional unattended cars. The majority of car theft happens when cars are left alone in one place for long periods of time. Although the Home Office tells us that car crime figures are slowly reducing, thieves are getting smarter and are often part of organised groups, many will know if you are going to be away from your car for any length of time.” Commuters travelling to the city from places such a Guildford in Surrey, may choose to leave their cars in places such as Fulham or Putney. As you might expect the closer you get to London the higher the rate of vehicle crime. In fact, statistics published by the Home Office suggest that a Surrey resident parking their car in the London, Metropolitan area more than double their chance of becoming a victim of car crime.