KEY POINTS:
LONDON - "Savvy" car vandals are increasingly striking outside owners' homes rather than in areas monitored by CCTV cameras, insurer Direct Line said.
Vandals have moved away from areas likely to have cameras as they become more common in car parks and town centres, Direct Line said.
Around 45 per cent of acts of motor car vandalism now happen outside owners' homes in residential areas.
In contrast, just 6 per cent take place in shopping centre car parks.
"Vandalism is one of the most irritating problems motorists are facing today," said Direct Line spokeswoman Emma Holyer.
"These vandals have become savvy to where they can get away with this pointless crime and this is causing worry and misery for drivers."
London is the top vandalism hotspot, followed by Manchester, the Wirral, Edinburgh and Birmingham, Direct Line's study found.
It said vandals had caused £563 million ($1.6 billion) worth of damage to motorists' cars in the past year.
The most common damage is the car being scratched by a key, followed by windows being smashed and wing mirrors being broken. More than 3.5 million drivers have been a victim of vandalism in the past 12 months, 31 per cent twice.
- REUTERS
