In Annerley, Brisbane, residents awoke Monday to find their cars vandalized. Seventeen vehicles had windows smashed in a late-night spree.
Residents Amy Powell and Sam Sedgman were among those affected, discovering their two cars damaged.
According to an ABC report, Sedgman’s vehicle, insured by Budget Direct, had windscreen replacement approved. However, Powell’s vehicle, covered by Allianz, encountered policy issues.
Powell expressed surprise at Allianz’s requirements: the perpetrator’s details.
“You think you pay all this money to get help when you need it, but it hasn’t been the case, which is a shame,” she told ABC. “Hopefully they find somebody – there are a number of people around the streets who have CCTV and hopefully some dashcams as well.”
Martin Wells, another victim, reported similar difficulties with his insurer, which also refused to cover his excess. He hoped the police would catch those responsible for both insurance purposes and peace of mind.
“It’s all so very silly, really, because they don’t know us, and we don’t know them,” he said. “I don’t see how they get any satisfaction out of it.”
An Allianz representative said that while malicious damage is covered, claims are subject to excess fees unless the perpetrator is identified or the customer has optional “removal of excess for windscreen damage only claims” coverage.
“When a customer makes a claim against their policy, it is subject to an excess unless they can provide us with the details of the person responsible for the damage so that we can exercise our rights of recovery for the resulting damage,” the spokesperson told ABC. “This means that for incidents like these, we will pay for the damage, but an excess is payable unless the identity of the ‘perpetrator’ is determined.”
Queensland Police has released CCTV footage of a vehicle of interest and is asking the public for assistance.
A police spokesperson noted that investigations are ongoing and urged anyone with information or relevant footage to come forward.
“Around 17 vehicles around Victoria Terrace, Prince Street, and Duke Street were located with significant damage, including smashed windows,” the spokesperson said, as reported by ABC. “Investigators… would like to speak to anyone who might recognise the vehicle, or may have any information or relevant footage to come forward.”
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) recommended that customers thoroughly review their insurance policies to understand their coverage.
“It’s important that policyholders read their insurance documents carefully and understand what is and is not covered,” said a spokesperson for ICA, as reported by ABC.
