Vandals target expensive vehicles in 'envy attacks'

Expensive cars in the capital are being damaged by vandals envious of their owners' apparent wealth as recession widens the gap between rich and poor, new figures show.

The statistics reveal that cars including Porsches, BMWs and Aston Martins are regularly being targeted by vandals in central London.

The survey showed that expensive cars are three times more likely to be maliciously damaged than average-priced vehicles.

Eight London postcodes are in the top 10 areas where the highest number of vandalism attacks take place.

BMW's Z3 two-seater sports car which costs up to £36,000 is the model most frequently vandalised followed by Chrysler's Crossfire convertible, priced £35,000.

The Porsche Cayenne off-roader, priced up to £89,000, is the next most at-risk vehicle. Older cars such as the original Austin Mini, Land Rovers and a Ford Sierra are least likely to be vandalised.

The risk ratings are based on 25,000 malicious damage claims submitted over the past five years to online motor insurer elephant.co.uk

The insurer's managing director, Brian Martin, said: "Sadly, some people are jealous of those who drive expensive cars so it could be that luxury cars are targeted because of old-fashioned envy."