Vandals damaged more than 200 vehicles in Melbourne’s northern suburbs last year, new figures reveal.
Hume residents chalked up the most expensive insurance bills in 2013, totalling almost $200,000 for 42 separate incidents, according to the RACV.
There were 35 malicious damage claims in Whittlesea, with a total insurance payout of $100,952.
The RACV’s data, released last week, shows there were 233 malicious damage incidents in the northern suburbs, with Banyule recording the highest number of claims (44).
The most common incidents involved vandals breaking into a vehicle, smashing windows, keying or scratching a car, or denting bonnets or roofs.
RACV Insurance general manager Paul Northey said motorists could protect their cars by parking off the street in a secure garage or in a busy, well-lit location.
He also advised drivers to remove GPS devices and iPod cords from view before locking their vehicle.
“Last year, RACV Insurance paid out more than $3.5 million to members whose vehicles had been maliciously damaged,” Mr Northey said.
According to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, Hume (seventh) and Whittlesea (eighth) are also among the top 10 municipalities for car theft nationally.
