RACV Names Inner Melbourne A Favourite For Car Vandals

RACV Insurance has released statistics showing the inner suburbs of Melbourne are the most likely places for you to find your car has been intentionally damaged.

As a percentage, inner Melbourne accounts for 16 percent of claims relating to the deliberate damage of cars insured by the RACV.

The number of claims made to the RACV alone numbered 1250 in the year ending December 2011. The attacks cost the insurer a total of $3.5 million, an average of almost $2800 per claim.

Between Inner Melbourne and Western Melbourne is a six percentage point gap, leaving the CBD, Richmond, St Kilda and South Yarra way out in front of Footscray, Essendon and St Albans.

According to the RACV's General Manager of Insurance, Paul Northey, motorists should avoid parking in places such as "train stations, shopping centres or the side of the road."

Which pretty much leaves your driveway (if you have one) as the only place you should park if you live in these areas.

The figures also show that 57 percent of these incidents occur between 6am and 6pm, leaving a still sizeable number of attacks occurring in broad daylight.

"Malicious damage claims lodged with RACV were most often the result of vandals breaking into vehicles, keying or scratching or smashing windows. Incidents of roof denting from people jumping on cars were also reported," Northey added.

Sadly, fitting flame throwers as a deterrent is not legal in Australia.

Top ten regions for malicious damage claims:

RACV claims data for the 12 months to the end of December 2011.