car stolen after keys stolen from open house

jud!th

Hi - we left our patio doors open last night and came down in morning to find handbag stolen and car gone.

der

anyway - I know that we can't claim on the house insurance for locks being changed and stuff, but do you think this will invalidate the car insurance too?

That would be pretty bad for us...

tia for any help

love, Judith
x

jud!th

thanks for that - actually my husband is convinced that we hadn't left the door open, but we just assumed that because the door was open when we came down, and because there were no marks on the door, that that must have been what happened.

I followed the link but I can't see anything about opening patio doors without leaving a mark - can you help more with that?

ta

Judith
x

TheChillPill

albertross wrote:

If everyone took their keys to bed, this sort of car theft wouldn't happen as much.

I disagree, I think doing that puts you at an unacceptable level of risk. I know of 2 people who used to keep their keys well hidden at all times, and both were woken to the sight of someone stood over them threatening them for the keys.

Personally, I keep my keys out of view from the outside, but easily spotted should someone manage to get in.

TheChillPill

I'm surprised to see the police advising that personally.

I suppose to an extent it depends on your car - i.e if you own a car that is likely to be stolen 'to order', then a confrontation is more likely.

gyzmo

I doubt your car insurance would be invalidated. Basically, you are insuring the risk of you being negligent. In leaving the doors open, you have acted negligently and so would be covered.

If your insurers tell you any differently, there is case law that you can rely on. As soon as I find it, I'll let you know (but tell us what your insurer says!).

You shoudl have no problems.

Wyndham

I don't think you will be covered. You need to take reasonable care and it could be argued that you didn't if you left the door unlocked overnight. It could be argued (sorry, this will sound harsh) that you didn't take any care about the keys and have a reckless attitude.

Though I have to admit to being surprised to find myself disagreeing with gyzmo...

elisebutt65

I was inthe front room when someone came in through the back door to my kitchen and stole my handbag.:eek:

However insurance were fine and paid out in full. I always take my bag wherever I go now, including up to bed with me, but it's easy to see - right next to bed so nasty burglar can grab it and leave me alone.

gyzmo

Hey, Wyndham, Lets have a fight!!! ! Lol!

referring to Sofi v Prudential Insurance Co Ltd (1990), it was held that teh conduct of the insured (in leaving her car unattended for 15 minutes, during which time £50k of stuff was stolen), although careless, was not wreckless, and so was entitled to claim.

I am not aware of any appeal or or of that case being overturned (but it is a while since I last worked in insurance). I have also used the case successfully when my bone-headed, knuckle scraping former employer (a certain company that has a phone as it's logo (OOOPS!)) decided to refute a coupe of claims. The FOS agreed with me when these cases went to complaint stage.

I believe that my argument before could still stand. Courts now do not favour wordings such as "take all reasonable precautions". What would happen, however, would need a court or FOS ruling to decide, but I would be confident of a win!

PS, drinking's better than figting! Lets have a drink together instead!

gyzmo

PS - just found out how to do signature - what do you think???

kaya

if you leave your keys in your car and it gets stolen your !!!!ed, my wife worked for a major company dealing with insurance claims, in the event of a claim they would ask for the car keys, then refuse to pay out if only one set of keys were presented which were the shiny unmarked spare set

Bennifred

gyzmo wrote:

PS - just found out how to do signature - what do you think???

Good! But check out the spelling:D - prosecute!