As vehicle technology has developed, so has the car crime that targets your precious wheels! We’ve taken a look at the most common, current offences, from full vehicle theft through to fake accidents and car cloning, as well as the best ways to avoid to these costly car crimes…
The DVLA, in its review of 2024, stated that seven cars were stolen every hour in the UK. While you may imagine luxury vehicles at the top of the bill, the humble Ford Fiesta actually takes the top spot in the most stolen cars, with nearly 4,500 stolen over the year! So, you shouldn’t consider any model, however ‘average’, safe from car thieves!
The likelihood of your car being stolen also seems to change depending on where your car is in the country…
Greater London will no doubt always wrack up the worst figures for car crime and their latest stats, according to the DVLA, are no exception, with a huge 14,106 stolen vehicles over 2024. However, if you look at car theft figures relative to population, it’s actually the West Midlands that has the highest car theft rates. 2.64 cars were stolen for every 1000 people in the West Midlands, compared to London’s 1.58 cars for every 1000 people.
With vastly less stolen cars (1,979) but nearly the same rate relative to population as London, is South Yorkshire, followed by Essex, Bristol and West Yorkshire.
The region recording the lowest car thefts relative to population is the whole of Northern Ireland, with only 213 thefts, or 0.11 cars stolen per 1,000 people! DVLA reported that Scotland also recorded low car theft figures with 0.24 cars stolen per 1,000 people. Wales was also relatively safe from the threat of car theft at just 0.46 cars stolen per 1,000 people.
The safest places for car ownership in England are Cumbria, Norfolk, Isle of Wight and Cornwall, all seeing less than 0.24 cars stolen per 1,000 people.
What has changed about car theft over the years is the method in which thieves gain access to your car. Long gone are the days where a crow bar and brute force were the tools of choice, now a car thief can gain access to your vehicle without even touching it.
Interestingly, in official car theft data, keyless theft wasn’t even a recorded method of entry before 2018, but by March 2020 it was the third most common method for vehicle theft (behind unlocked doors and windows being broken). In the latest data available from the Office of National Statistics, around 40% were stolen by the offender manipulating the signal from a remote locking device, the next method being using the key or fob itself.
So, exactly how are cars are being stolen? There are various forms of key jacking…
Relay theft involves targeting cars parked near to the owner’s home. Two devices – a relay transmitter and an amplifier are used in tandem to trick the car into thinking the key is closer than it is, which means the car can be unlocked, started and driven away. This criminal equipment can be purchased for as little as £100 and has naturally become a growing problem for those tackling car theft.
Car key code grabbing is exactly as it sounds. Criminals wait for an opportunity, usually in public parking areas, to capture a key code using an electronic tool as the owner locks their vehicle. The code is then downloaded onto a blank key and used to steal the car.
On-board diagnostics system compromise uses a device that vehicle technicians would legitimately use to check the health of the car. But of course, this technology can be exploited by criminals to gain information on the car including the key’s unique code, which can then be used to create a duplicate key.
Transponder key cloning relies on criminals gaining original keys through businesses that may be entrusted with them for short periods of time such as garages or car washes. A device is used to copy the code from the original key onto a blank key, which is then used to steal the car at a later date.
Electronic control unit replacement means hacking or replacing what is essentially the computer controlling a vehicle’s electrical systems. By controlling this, thieves can start and drive a car away, but it’s not an easy or quick method of car theft so more likely to be used on vehicles parked overnight.
Believe it or not, the old fashioned steering wheel lock is one of the best way to deter car thieves. While it’s not impossible to remove a wheel lock, it’s a hassle, and far more time consuming than most thieves will be bothered with. Even if they’ve gone to great lengths to open and start your car, that’s useless without being able to steer!
The majority of modern cars have an alarm, but if you have a basic or vintage model, it’s definitely something you should consider.
Immobilisers are also a useful security device. All cars manufactured since October 1998 have an immobiliser fitted as standard, but you can purchase additional systems that will offer increased security and protection against car theft.
Blocking the signal from your car key (and spare keys!) is also a really simple but effective tool against some of the car theft methods we’ve described. Using a good quality, purpose made, ‘Faraday pouch’ will offer the best protection, but there are DIY methods that will block or at least inhibit those signals, if done correctly. Use aluminium foil or copper mesh to line a tin made from conductive metal and ensure it will close tightly for the best results.
It’s less common, but frighteningly still a reality, that criminals may break into your house specifically to target car keys. This kind of theft is called ‘Hanoi’ after the police initiative created to stop it – Operation Hanoi. Protecting your car against this kind of theft is, of course, to actually secure your home. Ensure any entry to your house is properly locked and secured, use your house alarm, don’t leave valuables in view of windows, including your car keys, which should be in a secure place.
Another general, worthwhile security measure, but one that also specifically protects from transponder key cloning, is checking that the garage, valeting or car washing service you’ve chosen to use is trustworthy, before handing over your keys.
Theft from vehicles is hardly a modern crime, but it’s still rife across the country. As you’d probably imagine, the majority of thieves wouldn’t go to the effort of using the sophisticated technology methods we’ve described, only to snaffle some loose change or a shopping bag in view. Quite shockingly, most years’ of car crime data over the last decade have shown that over 40% of cars are accessed as ‘break-ins’ via an unlocked door. In 2024, according to the Office of National Statistics, the method of entry in incidents of theft from vehicles recorded a huge 54% from unlocked doors. Forced locks and broken windows accounted for 15% each, while manipulated signals from remote locking devices accounted for just 7%.
While the methods of entry haven’t changed significantly over the years, the items most likely to be stolen, or at least their value, has changed. The monetary value of items stolen from cars has increased significantly over the last decade, going from just over £200 in 2014 to an average of around £400. That’s hardly a surprise with mobile phones being one of the most stolen items and the cost of those devices having soared. Other common stolen items from cars still include handbags, jewellery, wallets/purses, clothing and even documents, which worryingly could lead to identity theft. But it’s not just high-value items that thieves are willing to break into a car for, the cost of living crisis has seen thefts of food, toiletries and cigarettes increase year on year.
Although usually from vans, tools are also highly vulnerable to in-vehicle theft. In 2024 there were nearly 45,000 reports of tool thefts from vehicles in the UK – that’s one tool theft every 12 minutes, compared to just over 14,000 in 2014.
There has also been an increase in the demand for car parts themselves, with thefts of wing mirrors, wheels (or even just the tyres), catalytic converters (stolen for the precious metals they contain), batteries and car emblems, all making the top ten stolen car parts.
It’s always been said that parking in a well-lit and busy location will help protect your vehicle. While that advice is of course still valid and may offer some protection from criminals wanting to work secretly under darkness, in recent years there has been an increase in daylight car crime. Obviously we’re not suggesting you choose dimly lit alleyways as an ideal parking spot – thieves are still less likely to target vehicles in busy locations with good visibility, but it certainly highlights the need to use other vehicle protection methods in addition to a sensible parking spot.
We mentioned car alarms in vehicle theft and they are even more effective for vehicle break-ins as the criminals in these instances are less likely to have a method of disabling them.
Don’t leave valuables in your car! Or, if you don’t have a choice, at least ensure they are out of view and ideally, secured. Remember that even a small bag of food shopping could be considered worth breaking into your car for, so having any item on view puts temptation in a thieves way.
Tool theft is obviously a harder ‘contents’ theft to manage, as you are likely to need access to your tools within your vehicle throughout the day. For tools that do have to stay in your vehicle, they should be kept out of sight and secured. Always remove them at the end of the day and use signage to explain no tools are stored in your vehicle overnight. It’s also highly effective to mark your tools – it makes them harder to sell, easier to track and return, and helps convict any criminals caught with them. There is specific advice for van/tool owners available at Van Watch.
When it comes to protecting car parts from criminals it can be tricky! There are a few physical things you can do though – folding in your wing mirrors and locking them in place makes a thief’s job harder, as does leaving your wheels at a 45 degree angle, close to the curb. A car alarm should help deter a criminal trying to access your battery, you can also purchase battery locks and/or an additional bonnet lock. By etching your VIN number on your catalytic converter it will be worth less to the thief and may even make its way back to you if it’s recovered. There’s very little you can do to avoid your car emblem being stolen, but all the security methods mentioned here will help protect your vehicle in general.
After all this advice to protect your car from break-ins, remember the shocking statistic we started with? Most cars are accessed via an unlocked door! So, while all these precautions are sensible and worthwhile, the most important preventative method is also the most simple – never leave your car running, even for a moment, and always check you’ve locked it!
‘Crash for Cash’ is the modern motor crime causing the government and the insurance industry a major headache. While many people are now savy to this serious fraud, if you are targetted, it’s actually very hard to prove your innocence .
If you are not aware of the term ‘crash for cash’ we’re sure you haven’t struggled to figure it out – accidents are staged, usually with innocent road users involved, to gain profit from fraudulent insurance claims. Usually these scams are based on exaggerated injuries or damage.
In October 2024 the Home Office reported “Crash for cash scams are becoming a significant issue. This sees fraudsters recklessly orchestrate accidents to put forward an insurance claim, putting innocent lives at risk. Fraudsters may also make claims for accidents that never happened. The Insurance Fraud Bureau is currently investigating over 6,000 suspected fraudulent motor insurance claims, which could be linked to crash for cash scams. In total, this is estimated to be worth over £70 million in potential fraud.”
The reason these scams have been successful, is that the processes and laws dealing with them have been designed to protect the innocent, which these criminals are setting themselves up to be. The government continues to review the laws around this area and The Civil Liability Act 2018 has already introduced a fixed tariff system of compensation and brought in the need for compulsory medical evidence to support claims. The government has made it clear they want to ensure genuinely injured claimants receive proportionate compensation based on evidence and have committed to a regular review of the tariff.
There’s not a lot you can do to avoid this awful crime and the best advice comes direct from the police. We suggest you read this ‘Ask the Police’ webpage in full and send it on to friends and family so they are also informed.
Many organisations also recommend dash cams, which may put off the scammers, or will at least provide your perspective of the incident as proof of an unnecessary or dangerous maneuver.
While there is little you can do to avoid the crime, what should you do if you think you’ve been targeted?
As we’ve explained, the authorities and the insurance industry are very much aware of this scam, so you will have common sense on your side. Follow the police advice, which recommends strongly not to challenge anyone at the scene of the incident. Try to deal with it as you would a genuine claim. Don’t admit any liability, don’t hand over any cash, and get as much information and evidence (photos, witnesses etc) as you can. Contact the police at the scene, and as well as your own insurer, notify the Insurance Fraud Bureau online or on their Cheatline telephone number: 0800 4220421.
Car cloning isn’t new, but it’s certainly a growing car crime – according to the RAC 10,500 people reported suspected vehicle cloning to the DVLA in 2024 (compared to 6,000 reports in 2018).
Car cloning isn’t as technical and futuristic as it sounds, it’s simply reproducing your number plate and putting it onto another vehicle, leaving you liable for all of its illegal activities. Innocent car owners are left receiving speeding tickets, parking fines, bus lane fines and other driving related penalties. In the BBC’s recent report on this growing car crime, a member of the public they interviewed had been wrongly charged thousands of pounds after his registration had been cloned, causing a huge amount of distress and inconvenience.
As you may expect, this is another crime particularly rife in London, with 3,600 fines cancelled in 2023 after being linked to car cloning.
What can you do? Frustratingly, again, there isn’t a lot you can do to avoid this modern car crime – it’s sadly just unlucky if you are targeted. However, it can help if your car has distinguishing or unique identifying features such as vinyl stickers / badges etc.
If you do find yourself victim to this crime, official advice is to contact the issuing authority of the penalty, whether that is the police, a private parking company, local authority, or an organisation such as Transport for London, and produce any evidence you can to show it wasn’t your car in that location. You should also contact the DVLA.
If it’s an ongoing problem, the police advise purchasing a private number plate and updating the DVLA – this way you can no longer be liable for penalties linked to the original registration.
We hope our information on current car crimes and what you can do to protect yourself and your car has been helpful.
If your car has been damaged through crime and will cost more to fix than it’s worth we can still offer you a competitive price for it. You can get an instant quote online or if you’d rather talk through the condition of your car, do get in touch directly with our lovely customer services team who will be happy to help you.
Stay safe
