Car thefts soar as crooks get hi-tech savvy
CAR thefts are on the rise after years of decline as criminals work out how to beat hi-tech vehicle security.
Some 85,688 cars were stolen in England and Wales last year – up 30 per cent on three years earlier, a study found.
Recent security devices had slashed the numbers stolen from a high of 300,000 in 2002, according to RAC Insurance.
But criminals are starting to win the security arms race and are beating electronic protection systems.
As a result, sales of old-style steering wheel locks are on the increase as drivers wake up to the threat.
Mark Godfrey of RAC Insurance said: “Technology advances in immobilisers, keys and car alarms had caused the number of vehicle thefts to decrease significantly from more than 300,000 in 2002 but sadly they have now increased after bottoming out in 2013 and 2014.
“We fear thieves are now becoming more and more well-equipped with technology capable of defeating car manufacturers’ anti-theft systems.”
The car theft hotspot is London, with 26,496 thefts reported to police there last year – up 29 per cent on 2013.
Second is the West Midlands with 5,930 thefts, a 43 per cent increase on 2013, followed by West Yorkshire, whose force recorded 5,597 vehicle thefts – a 57 per cent rise since 2013.