The AA has published advice on what motorists can do to help keep their vehicle safe and avoid making a claim on their car insurance.
According to the company, many car insurance policies will only provide limited cover for the contents of a vehicle, therefore it is better to arrange to collect as many items as possible at the end of a shopping trip.
Windows and sun roofs should always be locked and all security devices activated, the AA furthers.
Additionally, although parking in a public area is advisable, pay and display tickets may indicate to thieves that owners will not return to their cars for a long time, meaning they may be tempted to break-in.
Detective sergeant Matt Jarman of Thames Valley Police said: "By working together car owners and police can make sure criminals don't have a happy Christmas at our expense."
The AA revealed last month that 1,200 people claim compensation for whiplash injuries every day in the UK.
Compare car insurance quotes from lots of websites automatically with Quotezone! |