It has been revealed that motorists in East Sussex are more likely to file a theft claim on their car insurance. This included goods stolen from the car as well as their vehicle being stolen.

A study based from 10 million insurance quotes made over the past 10 years showed that drivers in the East Sussex village of Winchelsea are more likely to make a claim for theft in the past five years than any other postcode.

Andy Leadbetter, head of an insurance company stated: “It is quite a shock to see smaller rural villages snatching the top spots for car theft, whether its theft from the vehicle or the vehicle itself.”

Leadbetter continued by saying that people can do more to keep their vehicle safe from theft: “It goes without saying that valuable items, be it mobile phones, sat navs or stereo equipment should not be left on display. Improving security of your vehicle may also be an option – fitting an alarm or using a steering wheel lock are cost efficient means to safeguard your car.”

Saltburn-by-the-sea took second place whilst Godstone in Surrey took third place for most car thefts.

Last month the AA’s benchmark British Insurance Premium Index revealed that the cost of car insurance premiums rose by 7.5% to an average of £724.28. In 1994, when the AA began collating premiums the average cost was just £328 a year.