Popularity of sat-nav causes rise in theft from cars

Smash-and-grab thefts of satellite navigation devices from cars have soared by 35 per cent in the past 12 months.

A year ago, the RAC received 374 call-outs a day from drivers whose windows had been smashed. This year the daily toll has risen to 504.

Thefts from cars now take place every 22 seconds in the UK, with London one of the crime hot spots.

Each broken window costs drivers about £200 to repair but the cost of replacing lost equipment is far higher, the survey by RAC Auto Windscreens shows.

One in 10 cars has digital electrical contents worth more than £1,000. That's more than twice the £399 value of electrical goods in the average bedroom.

A quarter of cars are fitted with satellite navigation systems, which cost from around £100 up to £1,000. A fifth of cars contain a laptop computer some time during the week and one in eight vehicles contains an iPod or portable DVD player.

Despite the rise in thefts, drivers appear unwilling to make themselves less of a target, the survey showed. Four in 10 admitted leaving valuables on show when they park.