INS Aims To Stop Car Thieves
If the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) has its way it will end the party enjoyed by car thieves that are using a loophole in the system to defraud the state monopoly on insurance for millions of colones each year. The INS is looking for a solution to a growing problem.

When a vehicle involved in an accident is "totalled", the state insurance company pays out the insured and the vehicle is sent to the junk heap. And that is where a number of groups dedicated to car thefts take their opportunity.

Car thieves somehow get their hands on the totalled vehicle and then set off to steal to order the same make, model, year and colour of vehicle. Once the stolen vehicle is in their possession, the vehicles' identification is altered to match that of the totalled vehicle and then sold to unsuspecting customers.

The INS recognizes that this is a problem and is looking for ways to ensure that the totalled vehicle is destroyed and doesn't end up in the hands of car thieves.

In 2005, the INS paid out ¢2.16 billion colones (us$420 million dollars) in policy indemnities for stolen vehicles.

The most frequently stolen vehicles, according to INS records, is the Suzuki Sidekick, Honda Civi, Geo Tracker, Toyota Corolla, Tercel and Hi-lux pick up truck. In total, the INS paid out for 923 stolen cars.

The INS figures are only for vehicles with "additional" insurance coverage. The insurance portion of the mandatory "marchamo" does not cover theft. Vehicle owners have to purchase the additional coverage for theft, robbery and additional coverage over and above the state minimum.

According to figures by the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) for the year 2004 there 2.339 vehicles reported stolen. Of that number, the OIJ says 1.260 were simple neglect on the part of the owner and 773 stolen by "bajonazo", a method where the thieves stop a vehicle and point a gun to the owner who is asked to offer his or her vehicle in exchange for their life.