‘Stolen’ Porsche was hidden in mum’s garage

[austin552]

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2007/12/12/stolen-porsche-was-hidden-in-mum-s-garage-84229-20235683/

Dec 12 2007 by Gareth Lightfoot, Evening Gazette

A BUSINESSMAN made a false burglary report to claim more than £20,000 insurance money on his Porsche car.

Lee Jarvis, 36, reported a burglary at his home on June 6 last year, saying his car keys had been stolen and his Porsche 911 taken from outside.

He claimed insurance on the vehicle, which he had owned for three months, prosecutor Gale Gilchrist said yesterday.

He received a cheque for £20,000 in May this year, and £2,250 more when he disputed the amount.

The insurance company had “concerns”, and the Porsche was later found in Jarvis’s mother’s garage.

When arrested, Jarvis told police he got into financial trouble, with a £25,000 debt, couldn’t afford the car any more and decided to do an “insurance job”.

Jarvis, of Kirkleatham Lane, Redcar, admitted obtaining money by deception.

Duncan McReddie, defending, said: “Quite simply debts had got on top of him, to the point where he was overwhelmed.

“He couldn’t think rationally about how to deal with those debts.”

Jarvis applied for loans and to remortgage his house, but was declined due to bad credit.

“He hit upon this very foolish and criminal strategy.

“It actually came as something of a relief to him when the police caught up with him.”

He said Jarvis still worked hard running a business and was paying his debts.

Jarvis may face county court action from the insurance firm, who have recovered the car, to recover a shortfall.

Judge Peter Bowers said: “This sort of offence is easy to commit. Claims on insurance which are false have got to be deterred.”

He passed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, with a three-month curfew, probably with electronic tagging.

“At Christmas when you’re sat at home and not in the pub, you can reflect on why you’re there,” he added.

[bell]

thank you mr. Jarvis for higher insurance rates and more hassles when a car is ACTUALLY stolen.

years ago i was in a financial mess, it took some rearranging of my spending habits and some sacrifices but was able to pull out of it, although it was no where near 25k worth it was alot considering what i actually made. **** like that pisses me off, i hope he gets electricuted by the ankle braclet.

[LakeCleElum]

I know several Insurance investigators......They say something like 30% of vehicle reported stolen have what they call "owner involvement". Especially the lease vehicles that go over their mileage...........

[red-beard]

Why didn't he just sell the car?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Why didn't he just sell the car?

Probably still owed more on it than it was worth.

[MRM]

After the claim was paid he'd probably sell it somewhere. What he should have done is what we call a "give up" where he sold it for near market value to a chop shop who then disposed of it.

I'd say at least 30% of car theft claims have owner involvement. I used to do a lot of this work for insurance companies. Usually we'd find the car vandalized somewhere with the ignition damaged but the lock still intact. Which means the car was driven to the recovery site and then vandalized. Hotwiring a car seems to be a lost art.