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Interest of car thieves in Toyota RAV4 sharply increased

Having analyzed statistical data for the first two months of this year, the motor transport insurance risk underwriters of the JSIC “Seesam Latvia” noticed an unusually sharp increase of the number of thefts of “Toyota RAV4” cars.

If in the previous three years the insurers were notified of theft of 13 "Toyota RAV4" cars in total, already in January and February of this year the insurers received information on theft of eight cars of this make. Having reviewed information about the thefts of this year, we must conclude that the thieves are interested in as new as possible models of this make - the oldest of the stolen “Toyota RAV4” cars was manufactured in 2003, and most of the stolen cars are not more than three-four years old.

For example, a “Toyota RAV4” manufactured in 2008 was stolen from Zvaigznāja Gatve in Riga on February 2, and “Seesam Latvia” paid an indemnity of 13 000 LVL to the car owner. But on January 17 a “Toyota RAV4” manufactured in 2007 was stolen from Maskavas Street. An indemnity of 11 300 LVL was paid to the owner of this car. It should be noted that the vehicles were equipped with alarms. Experts concede that most likely those were custom-thefts and that the cars may have been immediately transported out of Latvia.

On Friday, March 4, one more car of this model was stolen in Riga – a “Toyota RAV4” manufactured in 2005 was stolen from Mērsraga Street. It was equipped with an alarm but was not insured, so that all the losses shall be borne solely by the car owner.

Last year “Toyota RAV4” ranked as one of the top five most sold new car models in Latvia. This car occupied a high place in the quality and reliability ratings of “Auto Bild” in 2011. Apparently, it was “appreciated” also by thieves.

Mr. Pēteris Lečmanis, a motor transport insurance risk underwriter of the „Seesam Latvia”, says that "Toyota RAV4" quite unexpectedly and very quickly has entered a leading position in the top of the most stolen cars:

– That is why we want to focus on car safety measures. Insurers generally accept the factory-installed alarm systems, without imposing additional security requirements. Protection systems, which are installed in cars, become more and more sophisticated from year to year, but also the equipment available to thieves becomes more and more sophisticated. For a few thousand dollars you can buy the so-called code grabber on the black market. It is a device that electronically, by the help of a remote control mechanism, scans and records the car's alarm codes, which then allows the thieve to switch off the car alarms without much difficulty and from a distance.

Therefore, given the upward trend of thefts of "Toyota RAV4", we suggest you to equip your car with extra safety systems. This can be done by any car security systems installer. It would be useful to choose the latest-generation systems, such as those containing the "Dialog" code. I want to stress that the utmost attention to safety measures now should be paid just by the owners of jeeps, who should also carry out diagnostics of the safety system of the car.

Additional information:

Vienības gatve 87H, Riga, LV-1004, Latvia

Tel. No. +371 67 06 10 29

Fax No. +371 67 06 10 22

dace.gertnere(a)seesam.lv

http://www.seesam.lv