Sydney, Oct 22: Nearly 1.7 million Australians have fallen victim to property crime in the past year, according to new research by Finder, Australia’s leading comparison site.
A survey of 1,062 respondents found that almost one in ten Australians – equivalent to eight per cent – experienced a property offence over the last twelve months. Of those surveyed, three per cent reported a home break-in, three per cent had personal belongings stolen, and three per cent had their cars broken into or stolen.
Tim Bennett, insurance expert at Finder, said the rise in property crimes is alarming.
“A worrying number of Aussies have been burglarised over the past year, myself included – a pair of thieves broke into my garage and stole my bicycle a few months back,” Bennett said.
“Incidents of robbery are very unnerving and can leave homeowners and car owners feeling anxious and violated,” he added.
The survey also found that sixty-four per cent of crime victims filed an insurance claim, meaning thirty-six per cent of cases went unclaimed. This leaves an estimated 601,000 Australians to bear the financial losses on their own.
Bennett suggested that economic hardship could be contributing to the rise in theft.
“Unfortunately, these sorts of crimes are more prevalent during tough times, which means if you’ve been the victim of a recent crime, you certainly aren’t alone. That’s cold comfort for households already struggling with living expenses having to endure loss and inconvenience.”
Bennett advised Australians to take extra precautions to protect their property.
“Keep valuable items away from public view and install extra security to deter thieves. A good home insurance policy can cover you from any unfortunate loss and limit financial hardship caused by a robbery or theft,” he said.
The survey highlights that with the rise in living costs, thefts are becoming more common, as many Australians find it harder to make ends meet, further challenging the country’s reputation as the “lucky country.”
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