Throwing stones at cars passing by, beating them with a club, apples falling from the 9th floor and hate and love letters on the sides of cars are some of the more striking examples of vandalism that the insurance has had to indemnify this year.

Vandalism against cars often results in loss amounts that can run into thousands of euros. This year, Seesam has already been notified of 82 incidents, with losses amounting to close to 130,000 euros. Scratches are the most common type of damage, with the average loss amounting to 1,500 euros, but the biggest scratch damage this year, as a result of which the car needed painting and replacement of parts, amounted to 4,500 euros. However, the biggest vandalism loss registered this year was a case of 9,200 euros, where vandals ripped the door off a van and caused further damage to the car in the process.

Child vandals on the move

“While the escalation of situations caused by road rage and the resulting damage to cars is showing signs of abating, we are seeing an increase in damage caused by ‘child vandals’,” said Rasmus Parve, Head of Claims Handling Department at Seesam.

Minors pelt passing cars with stones, in one case apples were thrown at cars from the 9th floor, and there have also been cases of cars being beaten with a club.

According to the insurer, vandalism is covered as a risk in the comprehensive insurance contract, but the person who causes the damage must compensate the insurer for the damage.

There are also quite a lot of comprehensive insurance cases where a child sees a dusty car and decides to “draw” a cute message on it. Dust particles, however, scrape the paint off the car and costly repairs lie ahead. Less often, a dusty car is also used as a canvas for angry messages. Such cases fall into the category of the more common cases mentioned above, with the losses amounting to an average of 1,500 euros, according to the insurer.

Cameras – the biggest enemies of vandalism

Cameras are playing an increasingly important role in preventing damage and catching the persons who cause damage. Dash cameras and security cameras around houses are more widespread and this makes it easier to detect breaches. “While in the past many offenders may have gone undetected, today they are more likely to be caught thanks to the cameras, which in turn has reduced the number of unsolved cases,” said Parve.

According to the insurer, it is not really possible to protect yourself against the actions of random vandals, but there are some tips to remember if your property has already fallen prey to vandals.

“If you catch a thief or a vandal right on the spot, a little attention is usually enough to make the criminal stop what they are doing for the time being. However, it would not be wise to take too many risks, as you may become engaged in a conflict if you try to stop the crime. It is therefore wise to first call the police operational number in order to ensure that the escalated situation is resolved in a professional atmosphere,” said Parve, sharing advice on how to act in the event of vandalism.

Try to remember as many details as possible, but do not start examining the evidence on your own.

Whether the matter at hand constitutes aggressive or vulgar drawings, scratched property or broken windows – the damage caused should be recorded and registered as quickly as possible. For insurance purposes, it is important that the incident is recorded, so both pictures and video are of great help. “In addition, it is also worth checking whether there are any security cameras nearby, which could help to catch the person who may have caused the damage and better establish the circumstances of the incident,” the insurer advised.