Car thieves ‘have no fear of being caught’ as total offences rise to highest since 2009

SOME of the country’s largest police forces are failing to identify suspects in more than 90per cent of car thefts, as critics claim criminals no longer fear being caught.

The number of vehicles being stolen has risen to its highest level in almost a decade, with criminal gangs often stealing high-value cars to ship overseas. Keyless technology has also been blamed for a rise in offences, with thieves using electronic devices to bypass vehicle security.

But the rise in offences has not been matched by a rise in the number of criminals being brought to justice. Analysis of the latest crime statistics reveals that nationally 77 per cent of vehicle theft investigations are closed by police with no suspect having been identified. In some parts of the country, including the West Midlands, that figure rises to more than 90per cent.

In London, only 15per cent of car thefts result in a suspect being identified with even fewer being convicted.

In the year to March, more than 106,000 offences of theft of or unauthorised taking of a vehicle were reported in England and Wales, the highest annual total since 2009.

However, of those offences, more than 80,000 were eventually classified as “investigation complete – no suspect identified”. All but five forces closed more than half of these cases without identifying a suspect.

West Midlands Police said it was committed to following the trail of evidence in all cases but if an investigation found no witnesses, CCTV or forensic evidence then the chance of identifying offenders was “vastly reduced”.

Simon Williams, the RAC Insurance spokesman, said motorists would be “shocked”. He added: “The fact fewer suspects are being identified is very worrying, and no doubt a symptom of the declining number of police officers and the resulting reduction in time dedicated to investigating the crimes.”