Parenting News: Buggy Theft is on the Rise
Buying a buggy is an essential part of getting around with a new born child and buggies are now becoming big business.
The average price of a buggy is £467 and some parents are spending over £1,000 on brands such as Maclaren, Graco, Silver Cross, Chicco and Bugaboo.
Unfortunately these big brands are the ones that are the main targets when it comes to buggy theft in the UK.
And it’s only getting worse, thefts have increased 25 per cent since 2009 to 7 per cent of parents having their buggy stolen.
Although, over 40 per cent of buggy thefts are not reported to the police, which means that the problem could be worse than the report shows.
LV insurance found that the rise in buggy costs as well as theft is leaving many parents buying second hand buggies.
Police reports estimate that 340,000 parents have had their buggies stolen, costing Britain a whopping £70 million in total.
Worryingly, thieves are getting more daring as nearly a quarter of thefts have happened outside of the parents’ home, with buggies being snatched from porches or outbuildings.
John O’Roarke, Managing Director of LV home insurance, said, “Baby buggies have soared in value in recent years with some designer models costing as much as a small car.
“This, combined with the fact that they can easily be sold on to cash-strapped parents has effectively fuelled a ‘black market’.
“It is easy to forget about your valuables when minding a small child but parents need to take care that they don’t fall victim to opportunistic thieves and ensure they have the correct insurance in place to cover them should the worst happen.”
Have you had a buggy stolen? Let us know your experience by commenting below or tweeting us @FemaleFirst_UK
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