Deborah Taylor still waiting for reimbursed insurance money after car smashed by crims

Insurance woes and safety fears has plagued a Townsville woman in the weeks since her car was smashed up by senseless criminals.

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INSURANCE woes and safety fears has plagued a Townsville woman in the weeks since her car was smashed up by senseless criminals.

Deborah Taylor, 58, is still waiting to be reimbursed hundreds of dollars from her insurance company months after the incident, saying all the little costs have added up.

The Pimlico woman was staying at a friend’s house in North Ward the night her car windows were smashed and panels were dented in November.

“I got a call in the middle of the night … got up and had a message from police saying my car had been damaged,” Ms Taylor said.

She wasn’t the only victim in the street, but thankfully police caught the culprits on site.

Despite the swift action of police, Ms Taylor is still waiting for about $800 of insurance excess and the costs of a hire car after she was left without her wheels for more than 20 days.

“It’s all the little costs … they all add up.”

Deborah Taylor has secured her Pimlico unit safe from being broken into. Picture: Evan Morgan

Ms Taylor has always been vigilante about her home security in Townsville and has even forked out money to install a deadlock on her rental.

The investment paid off when she realised someone had tried to break into her unit a week before her car was damaged.

“It was frightening.”

“I used to leave all my windows and doors open, but we are living in a different time now.”

Ms Taylor, who is shift worker, says she is scared of being wiped out by a stolen car while driving home from work late at night.

“I actually am really worried when I’m coming home I’m going to get T-boned at an intersection.”

“I see the stolen cars ripping around … I lock all my car doors when I get in the car.”

Ms Taylor said the crime crisis was out of control.

“I feel like our hands are tied.”

“Our system is not working … these kids need consequences.”

Originally published as Deborah Taylor still waiting for reimbursed insurance money after car smashed by crims