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Bad Habits of Car Thieves

and

The Human CostPresented by: Michael Burton - SHARPS

Copyright 2008

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S.H.A.R.P.S.

Risk Management – Recovered Vehicle Thefts

Reducing:• Risk of personal injury• Risk of insurance claims against insurers

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Titles for speech…

• Sex, drugs, rock and roll

• Don’t touch that! You don’t know where it’s been!

• Bad habits of car thieves and the human cost

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• Stolen vehicles• Sex• Drugs• Sharp Implements• Weapons• Crime• Injuries• Insurance Claims

Topic

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Risk Management and a

Proactive Approach to

Crime Affected Vehicles

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It’s a Fact !

• Syringes, Drugs and Biohazards are found in recovered stolen vehicles

every single day!

• Recognise and manage these risks or it could be very costly.

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Stolen Vehicle Statistics - Australia

• 2006/2007 – 72,000 stolen vehicles 58,000 recovered

• Statistically – 24,360 (42%) contain a risk

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Why steal cars?

• Joyriding• For sex, drugs, rock and roll: partying• Transport• Drug related activities• Crime: burglaries, hold ups, ram-raids

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What we find in recovered thefts…• Syringes• Drugs• Drug distribution equipment• Lancets, swabs, alcohol wipes, ampoules• Excrement, urine, blood• Condoms, tampons, pads• Bongs, caps, spoons, mull bowls and other drug paraphernalia• Knives, sharp implements, scalpels, torn metal• Break and enter tools• Machetes, swords• Weapons, guns

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Client risk assessment survey: 2007

SAMPLE 4000 recovered vehicles

Reported risks 1313 vehiclesContaining syringes 114 vehiclesContaining drugs 118 vehiclesContaining drugparaphernalia 84 vehiclesTotal risk detected/averted 1659 vehicles

Total risk factor….. 41.5%

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Client risk assessment

In 2004 only 34% of vehicles contained risk

In 2008 now 42% of vehicles contain risk

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Malicious Intent

Most syringes are dropped close to where they are used

HOWEVER!

Used syringes and sharp objects are regularly found maliciously placed to cause injury to vehicle occupants.

• Snapped off into back of steering wheel.• Stuck into backs and underside of seats, headrests.• Pushed into children’s toys.• Placed on top of sun visors.• In baby seats.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that the intended victims are police however, it is the innocent who are usually the victim

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What are the risks?

There are a wide range of possibilities, but risk mostly fits into these categories:

• Cut injuries

• Needle stick injuries

• Accidental drug intake

• Cross infection or contamination: bacteria, virus disease, HIV, hepatitis

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International levels of riskStolen Recovered Contain

Containvehicles vehicles health risk syringes

(75%) (42%)

• USA 1,200,000 900,000 378,00036,000

• UK 315,000 236,250 99,225 9,450• Italy 226,000 169,500 71,190 6,780• Spain 123,000 92,250 38,745 3,690• France 117,000 87,750 36,855 3,510• Aust 72,000 58,000 24,360 2,320

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Why are the numbers growing?

• Thefts reducing - thefts are slowly reducing each year due to improved security systems on new vehicles

• Drug use increasing - drug use in stolen vehicles is steadily rising and is expected to continue to rise in parallel with increasing drug abuse in the community

• 730% increase in injected drug use from 1991 to 1998

More syringes and drugs are being found in cars than ever before.

Victorian Drug Statistics Handbook 2002

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Interesting facts…

Global drug production – 2006

Heroin, up 5% 606,000 tonne

Cocaine, up 984,000 tonne

200 million people use drugs

Source: UN Doc 2007 Report

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Drugs and crime are synonymous with vehicle theft

Vehicle theft offenders interviewed:

92% tested positive to drugs

47% received income from crime

42% committed drug related offences

Source: NMVTRC Report 2007

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Who is at risk?

• Police/Investigators• Tow truck drivers• Insurance assessors• Insurance processing staff• Panel shop personnel• Panel shop subcontractors• Mechanical repairers• Vehicle owner:

• Family• Friends• Invitees

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Who is liable?

OH&S legislationDuty of Care – You to yourself and colleagues

Employer to employeeInsurer to everyone?!

• “Where a risk has been identified, adequate policy, precautions and procedures must be in place to remove or reduce and manage that risk.”

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Chain of liability… all roads lead to the insurer

Employer

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Chain of liability… all roads lead to the insurer

From the moment the Insurer accepts the claim, it has a duty of care and is liable for the safety of all involved in the process.

Note: Sub-contractors and sub, sub contractors either contracted or un-contracted, known or un-known to the insurer, who are involved in the claim or repair process, come under the umbrella of liability of the insurer.

Case: The Queen vs ACR Roofing Vic, 2004

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The Real Cost of a Claim

• Lost time/productivity for claimant and employer. Emotional impact/staff moral

• Medical treatment costs• Court awarded compensation • OH&S prosecution and penalties • Increased Workcover insurance premiums• Union action - restricted work practices• Negative public exposure for company• Legal costs

What will it cost you when an employee or customer sustains a needle stick injury?

$$$400K-

$2Mil$922,500(Company)$$$$Average total $1Mil to

$4Mil

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What Needs To Be Done ?

Decide:

• Proactive (prevent) or

• Reactive (pay out)

To avert the risk of personal injury claims, put in place risk management strategy, systems and procedures.

This is what S.H.A.R.P.S. does for its clients.

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Summary

Risk management – recovered stolen vehicles

42% of all recovered vehicles contain a risk• USA 378,000• UK 97,000• Italy 71,190• Spain 38,745• France 36,855 • Aus 24,360

Be proactive (not complacent) Or it could be very costly.

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Partnership opportunities in other countries.

The Future

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Risk Management

and

A Proactive Approach

to

Crime Affected VehiclesPresented by: Michael Burton - SHARPS

Copyright 2008