Bidvest Insurance helps victims of smash & grabs

Phil Donnelly, the Executive Head of Sales and Marketing at Bidvest Insurance.

Afrikaans singer Bobby van Jaarsveld’s young children were traumatised after a smash-and-grab incident that took place earlier this month. According to reports, Bobby’s manager Ronel Brink told Huisgenoot that Bobbys children were in the vehicle with Bobbys sister when the suspect shattered her car window while she was stuck in traffic and was unable to drive away. “The suspect struggled to break the window, and all they could do was sit in the car while it was happening”, she told the magazine. Van Jaarsveld confirmed to Huisgenoot that as a result of the incident he is taking them for counselling.

It’s a sad fact of life that in South Africa robberies such as vehicle smash and grabs are common incidents. According to BusinessTech, crime statistics released by the South African Police Service in 2016 indicate that there were approximately 139 386 incidents of theft out off or from a motor vehicle in the past year. These alarming statistics often leave many victims helpless, traumatized and out of pocket.

The upsurge in these crimes prompted Bidvest Insurance to develop a ground-breaking new product to help ease both the emotional and financial trauma associated with smash and grab incidents. The product in question is called Theftbuster Plus which has just been launched to help South Africans whose vehicles have been subject to a smash and grab incident or when their vehicle has been stolen or hijacked.

Smash and Grab thieves have become ruthless in focusing on vehicles where children are playing with iPads, Gameboys and phones whilst in the back seat, so parents travelling to and from school have become potential targets, with many mothers leaving handbags on the front seat or in the foot well. A large number of smash and grabs take place near bridges where traffic builds up so the thief can make a quick getaway under the bridge, often to an awaiting getaway vehicle.

According to Phil Donnelly, the Executive Head of Sales and Marketing at Bidvest Insurance, there are many consequences of these incidents, which are often overlooked. “Firstly, in a smash and grab there’s the absolute trauma of being face to face with attackers when you’re helpless in traffic. Then there’s the inconvenience associated with resolving the incident together with the financial costs that so many motorists just don’t consider,” he comments.

“In the event of a smash and grab the vehicle needs to be repaired so firstly there’s the costs of repairs as well as alternative transport, but then there’s also the costs of replacing the contents of the handbag or other items that were stolen. If a handbag was stolen, it probably contained a cell-phone and purse, which means the victim often has to replace the phone, sim cards, bank cards, driver’s licenses, ID books and ultimately the handbag itself.” Donnelly comments.

Then, of course, there is the psychological damage and emotional trauma associated with all these incidents “I’ve been on the receiving end of a hijacking so I can tell you that trauma counselling is a must. It helped me, my wife and my children who were also affected just like Bobby’s” Donnelly notes.

Enter Theftbuster plus, the brainchild of Bidvest Insurance. Motorists can now make an affordable once-off or monthly payment, which gives them access to substantial benefits in the event of a vehicle smash and grab which also provides cover in the event of vehicle theft and hijacking. Theftbuster is currently the only standalone product of its type in the country.

“We developed a product to cover the costs associated with these sorts of incidents so motorists don’t have to claim on their motor insurance where they can lose their no-claims bonus or cash back rewards, after all it’s not the victims fault but they end up paying in the long run. In a nutshell we provide cover for the stolen items, vehicle repairs, car hire, trauma counselling and so much more, so that a very negative situation can be made far more bearable for victims. “

Theftbuster Plus provides cover for the owner of the car, members of his or her immediate family as well as any authorised driver.

Donnelly says the product has already being extremely well received in the marketplace. “The reality is that we live in a country where crime is part of daily life. As a responsible company, we can’t stop crime, but we’d like to assist the victims and turn an unpleasant situation into a less stressful one.

We believe that Theftbuster Plus is ideally positioned to do just that,” he concludes.

Advice from SAPS is if you experience a smash and grab incident, it is important to stay calm and try and take note of key details. Drive off as soon as the opportunity arises and do not pursue the perpetrator under any circumstances. Drive to the nearest police station and lay a report by providing as much detail as possible about the area that the incident took place in as well as the items that have been stolen from your vehicle.