Car theft numbers have risen by almost a third since 2020, new figures have shown.
Data collected under the Freedom of Information Act Media information has shown that over the past three years, car thefts in some areas have increased by at least 50 per cent.
Unsurprisingly, the greatest number of cars stolen are in London and the West Midlands.
But with a 29 per cent increase nationwide in car thefts, motorists are facing yet another significant problem which could increase the cost of keeping on the road.
Worse still, only two per cent of car thefts leads to a successful prosecution according to the Government’s own figures.
The data was collated by AX Track, who claim there has been a significant increase in the sophistication used by modern car thieves.
Figures from the insurance industry show that cars with keyless entry and keyless start are twice as likely to be stolen compared with vehicles without the technology.
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Motoring experts believe the days of criminals forcing locks to steal cars are over. They have been replaced by gangs who use modern technology to pilfer vehicles
Unfortunately, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Essex Police, Warwickshire Constabulary and South Yorkshire Police failed to supply data for the Freedom of Information Request.
On average, car thefts have increased by 30 per cent, but several areas such as Hampshire, Devon & Cornwall, Kent, Humberside, West Midlands and Northumbria have seen such crimes jump by 50 per cent.
Neil Thomas of Ax Trak said: ‘Rising values of used cars and vehicle components could be driving increased crime as the techniques criminals use evolve.
‘The technology-driven tactics of today’s sophisticated criminals are a far cry from the opportunist teenagers of the past stealing cars for fun.
Though last month, a 26-year-old man on the Isle of Wight almost crashed over the edge of a cliff after losing control of a stolen Ford Mondeo during a suspected joyride.
Other criminals concentrate on stealing catalytic converters from cars parked outside people’s homes using battery powered reciprocal saws.
While Kevin Moss, from Guildford rang a friend while joyriding in Woking on July 26, 2021, to boast about stealing a car moments before he struck a wall and was later arrested by police.
Criminals have also noticed the average used car increase in value following a shortage of supply caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, the average second hand car cost £12,800. This rose to £17,654 by February 2023.
According to Mr Thomas, the 38 per cent increase in second hand car prices is encouraging the crime gangs.
Many people are resorting to old-fashioned car security measures, such as crook locks, to stop the criminals.
Criminals now use laptops and tablets to hack into a car’s computer system and override the vehicle’s security protocols
He said: ‘The ballooning cost of second-hand cars and their components now provides an even more lucrative financial return for criminals. While often sold as complete cars, criminals frequently choose to break them up and sell the parts domestically or internationally.
‘An attractive market for criminals, the global automotive aftermarket for replacement parts and accessories is estimated at $390 billion.’
He said: ‘Our study shows a huge rebound since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but in many cases we are seeing thefts surge ahead of the pre-pandemic figures from 2019. It’s a worrying trend, but not entirely unexpected given the increasingly sophisticated techniques that criminals are deploying.
‘Equipment costing thousands of pounds can be purchased online, enabling criminals and their associates to steal cars by eitSher cloning or mimicking the original key. Keyless theft can take several forms and it’s prevalent enough that criminals are stealing cars to order, identifying the right car while organising false numberplates before the theft even takes place.’
There are significant differences across the regions when it comes to recovering stolen cars.
Mr Thomas added: ‘The technology at their fingertips helps criminals to steal cars without having to force entry. And as used car values rise, an undamaged and valuable car is a significant incentive for criminals who often don’t get caught. We’ve even heard from some people in car crime hotspots that they leave their car open in the hope it might be recovered and returned undamaged.
‘While we wouldn’t advise leaving your doors open, there are precautions you can take. Number one is to park the car on a driveway or locked garage if you have one. Otherwise, park your car in a well-lit area, keep your car keys safe and make sure the car is fitted with adequate security. We’d also advise drivers to consider additional security measures.’
Mr Thomas said fitting a tracker to your car makes it far easier to recover in the event of theft.
He said his company has managed to recover cars taken from the UK from Europe and even Africa – including breaking up an organised crime gang from Uganda involved in stealing large numbers of prestige cars.
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats said the Conservative Party have been overseeing a ‘car theft epidemic’.
He claimed that four out of five car crimes were unsolved, with criminals allowed to ‘act with impunity’.
He said his party has been analysing the latest Home Office figures which showed police failed to attend three in four car thefts during 2022.
Sir Ed said: ‘There is a car theft epidemic across the country, which Conservative ministers are totally failing to tackle.
‘Criminal gangs are being allowed to act with impunity while victims are denied justice. The Government is effectively decriminalising car theft by letting these gangs get away with it.
‘People just want to know that if their car is stolen or house broken into, the police will turn up and properly investigate it. But this Conservative Government has decimated community policing, leaving victims of crime to fend for themselves.
‘The Liberal Democrats want to see a return to proper community policing, making our streets safer and ending this free-for-all for criminals.’
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Car theft is a truly distressing crime and we are closely working with the automotive industry and police to ensure our response is as strong as it can be.
‘Recent figures from the Crime Survey for England and Wales show vehicle crime is down 22 per cent since December 2019.
‘We expect police to take vehicle crime seriously and investigate thoroughly to ensure perpetrators are charged and brought to justice.
‘Last month we delivered our pledge to put 20,000 more police officers on our streets, and we are supporting police by providing more funding for crime prevention measures, including better street lighting and CCTV.’
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