Fitting higher security laminated glass to cars’ side windows could and should help reduce insurance premiums by combating the malaise of smash and grab thefts included in an eight-fold increase in traffic-bound muggings during the past three years.

Advocacy of fitting safer and more secure glass is led by Citroen, which fits it on selected C4s and C5s, while being standard with the C6.

The Citroëns are among only eight UK market cars listed by Thatcham auto insurance research centre to merit five-star (resistance to theft from and theft of) ratings.

The others were the Audi A8, Lexus LS430, plus Peugeot’s 407 and 607. Autoglass figures show that breaking and entering contributed to a £1.4bn car crime bill last year with the inevitable impact on premiums.