By XAVIER SMERDON
WYNDHAM cars are being vandalised and broken into at an alarming rate with the municipality having the eighth highest percentage for malicious damage claims over the last year.
Wyndham and Melton made residents made 3.7 per cent of all insurance claims for damage to their cars, according RACV statistics. At an average of $2960 per claim, Wyndham and Melton accounted for more than $140,000 in claims in just 12 months.
Malicious incidents included vehicles being broken into, keyed and scratched, and windows being smashed. Incidents of roof denting caused by people jumping on cars were also reported.
RACV Insurance Acting General Manager Bob McGuinness said people needed to be more mindful of where they parked their cars, and should avoid areas like the Werribee and Hoppers Crossing train stations car parks.
“Malicious damage claims lodged with RACV were most often a result of vandals intentionally damaging vehicles or would-be thieves attempting to steal vehicles,” Mr McGuinness said.
“Drivers can reduce the likelihood of malicious damage by avoiding parking in locations where vandals or would-be car thieves are more likely to strike such as railway station and shopping centre car parks.”
According to the RACV statistics 57 per cent of the incidents occurred between the daylight hours of 6am and 6pm.
