Crime figures may hide true extent of vehicle theft

MyCarCheck.com suggests the latest crime figures from the Office for National Statistics may mask the true number of vehicle thefts.

The latest figures show that crime has remained at the same level for the past three years, with ‘vehicle-related theft’ making up 13% of the total.

While most categories of police recorded crime fell in 2011/12 compared with 2010/11, there was a 2% increase in ‘other theft offences’, driven principally by rises in theft of unattended property.

Roger Powell, divisional head at CDL Vehicle Information Services Ltd (which owns MyCarCheck.com), commented: “While these figures are neither especially encouraging or disappointing, you have to remember that the way they are compiled can hide the true extent of the problem.

“For example, cars taken during house burglaries – by simply nicking the keys and driving away – will go on the burglary figures and not in the vehicle crime category, because that is the primary offence.

“If we are just treading water in terms of the crime level you have to question whether it is right to cut the police budget so savagely.

“We will continue to put out scam alerts on the latest tactics being employed by car thieves and will continue to work closely with the police, the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI) and other interested parties to reduce vehicle crime.”