In recent years there has also been a worrying rise in cases of motorists having their handbags, laptops or briefcases in their car stolen (often from the front seat) during traffic stops.

The trick is bold to say the least: the thief simply opens the door and escaped with your belongings before they realized what happened or has even had time to unclip your seatbelt. In these cases, the scammers are counting on the fact that the driver is not likely to pursue and / or leave their vehicle. For the record, we recommend that you do not give chase. Ring police immediately and try to give an accurate description of the robber. It must be said that such thefts from motor vehicles is not so common as flying cars unattended, but it’s worth being aware.

Luckily, there are a number of measures that drivers can take to reduce the risk of falling victim to these types of crimes. When you park your car and leaving it unattended, the police recommend that you do not leave anything of value in the car.

Unfortunately, putting a laptop in the trunk is not a guarantee it will not be stolen. Loading areas of hatchbacks and wagons can be easily accessed via their folding chairs. A cargo death, covering the cargo space of a car is usually an invitation for a thief to break because he or she thinks the owner has something valuable to hide.

Where possible, parking in areas with lots of pedestrian traffic to make it difficult for a thief to touch your car. At night try to park only in well lit areas. Be aware of who is around you when returning to your car when you enter, lock your doors immediately and start the car and leave immediately.