Increase in vehicle thefts could be ‘tip of car crime iceberg’

● Statistics show 29-per cent rise in vehicle thefts ● Cost of living crisis could fuel further increases

CAR theft increased by 29 per cent between September 2021 and September 2022, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics, and there are concerns that the problem will get worse.

The AA has predicted that incidents of car theft will continue to become more common in 2023, with the deepening cost of living crisis tempting more people into criminal activity. Older cars are still being stolen with ‘smash and grab’ techniques, but seasoned thieves are more commonly using relay attacks to hijack the signal from a keyless fob, using it to unlock and start a car parked on someone’s driveway.

While the theft of items from vehicles tends to be opportunistic, stealing a vehicle itself is more likely to be planned, with many cars stolen to order. Thieves often ship stolen cars abroad or cut them up for parts.

Gus Park, managing director of AA Insurance Services, commented: “Vehicle theft is rising very steeply, and we are worried that more cars will be taken this year as gangs continue to attack innocent drivers by taking their prized possessions. There are many steps people can take to protect their car and there are many security measures and products to meet every budget.”

Meanwhile, vehicle security firm Tracker has revealed the list of its top 10 most recovered stolen cars in 2022. The company retrieved more Range Rover Sports than any other model; in fact, 42 per cent of vehicles it recovered during the year were Land Rovers.

The Mercedes C-Class was the fifth-most recovered car and the Lexus RX 450h was sixth. Other cars in the list included the Mercedes GL-Class, BMW 3 Series and Volkswagen Golf.

Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, explained: “It’s not just premium and nearly new cars being targeted by thieves. An ongoing lack of parts for new-car manufacturing – primarily microchips – has boosted demand in the second-hand car market and, in turn, created an opportunity that professional criminals have been quick to take advantage of.”