Vehicle crime increase revealed in latest ONS data

There was a 24.9% year-on-year increase in the number of vehicles stolen across England and Wales, according to new data published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). 

Analysis shows that there were 130,389 vehicles stolen last year, compared to 104,435 during the previous year (2021).

Furthermore, AA Insurance Services says that theft from vehicles rose by 9.9%, with 212,900 people having items stolen from their vehicle compared to 193,647 the year before.

Devon and Cornwall Police were unable to supply figures to the ONS, so the true figure is likely to be even higher.

Gus Park, managing director for AA Insurance Services, says that the rise in vehicle thefts is “worrying” and highlights that security is “vitally important”.

He added: “Unfortunately, there is no one thing that can guarantee keeping your car safe from theft, but just making it a bit harder for the thieves can make it less likely that they’ll go for your car.”

When it comes to taking cars, thieves are keeping pace with manufacturers by using a variety of hi-tech methods to steal them. Relay theft, key cloning and signal blocking continue to be the main methods of illegally obtaining vehicles.

When it comes to taking things from cars, faster and more traditional methods are adopted such as smashing windows or forcing windows and doors open are adopted to gain phones, wallets, and other valuable possessions.

AA Insurance Services is reminding company car and van drivers to not store valuables in their vehicles if possible, or at the very least advise drivers to keep items hidden away.

Visible deterrents such as using a steering wheel lock plays a crucial role in keeping thieves at bay, because these devices cannot be overcome by the technology now being used by gangs to steal cars, it says.

Although nothing is fool proof, this deterrent is likely to make the thief move on to the next unprotected car.

Separate data from the Metropolitan Police, which was published recently, revealed that tool theft from a vehicle had increased by 25% – accounting for a third of all tool thefts recorded in the capital in 2021 and 2022. 

Tradespeople are 10 times more likely to experience tool theft from a vehicle than they are from a building site or their place of work – with only 14% of cases leading to the suspect being identified.