SMASH AND GRAB
THE NUMBER OF THEFTS FROM VEHICLES IS AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN FIVE YEARS
ONE vehicle is broken into every two minutes in England and Wales - and the number is rising.
The latest official crime data shows there were a staggering 277,017 thefts from vehicles in the year to September 2018.
That works out as one every two minutes, on average.
The number is up from 276,899 the previous year, and the highest for at least five years.
Experts explain that the number of thefts is increasing because there are more vehicles on the roads.
At the end of 2017, there were 37.7 million licensed vehicles in Great Britain, which is a 1.3% increase compared to the previous year.
The total number of licensed vehicles has increased in practically every year since the end of the Second World War.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Acquisitive Crime, Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, said: “In recent years theft from vehicles has started to increase across the country following many years of reductions. This is against a backdrop of a significant increase in the number of vehicles on the road.
“Police forces continue to work with key partners including the Home Office, the National Crime Agency and vehicle manufacturers to identify and address current crime trends, design-out crime and increase security. Meanwhile, local officers provide simple and effective prevention advice based on the particular type of crime most prevalent in their area.”
London had the highest number of thefts from vehicles, 63,289, but the highest rateper-head, too.
There was one theft for every 139 people living in the capital in the year to last September.
Bedfordshire had the second highest rate, with one theft for every 142 people, followed by Greater Manchester with one for every 146 people.
Dyfed-Powys in Wales had the lowest rate, with just one theft from a vehicle for every 971 people living there. Police say the best way to protect belongings in vehicles is to keep them out of sight, and make sure your vehicle is securely
locked.
They recommend not leaving jackets and bags where they can be seen, and removing all valuables from vehicles being parked up overnight.