£1.9bn car vandalism bill

VANDALS cause £1.9billion of damage to nearly 3 million cars each year, a study has found.

The cost rose 9.5% last year – but the real impact could be much higher because a third of cases are never reported to police.

Drivers spend an average £661 to repair dents, graffiti, smashed windows and keyed bodywork, according to the research by Churchill Car Insurance.

Almost a fifth of UK drivers have had their car vandalised, but 60% of police probes into the incidents are closed without identifying a suspect, the study found.

Steve Barrett of Churchill said: “We strongly advise victims report vandalism to the police.”