‘Disturbing’ surge in vehicle thefts in Cambridgeshire over last four years - but force says it is making progress

RAC Insurance has urged drivers to do more to make their car a less easy target for opportunistic thieves, after the ‘disturbing’ figures revealed vehicle thefts on the rise nationally.

Cambridgeshire Police dealt with 1,144 stolen vehicle reports in 2018-19, according to figures obtained by RAC Insurance 78 per cent more than the 641 cases seen in 2014-15 - a rise of 503 crimes.

In comparison, neighbouring Lincolnshire was just one of three police forces not to record an increase in thefts out of the 41 that responded to the Freedom of Information request.

There the county saw a 38 per cent decrease in thefts reported over the last four years.

Some 152,541 vehicles were stolen in 2018-19 across Great Britain, a rise of 56 per cent compared to 2014-15.

However, Cambridgeshire Police say the latest figures for 2019-2020 paint a different picture.

A police spokesperson said: “The figures quoted in this report go back more than six years and there has been a significant reduction in theft of vehicle offences in the last two years.

“In this timeframe we have conducted investigations where people have been convicted of multiple theft of motor vehicle offences, including a series involving keyless cars.

“Vehicle crime was made a force priority earlier this year. We are committed to tackling the issue and bringing offenders before the courts.

“There could be a variety of reasons for the increase in the statistics over a long timeframe, including crime series as previously mentioned and improvement in recording processes since 2014.

“Crime prevention advice to help motorists keep their vehicles safe is available on our website.”

The force states: “We did see an increase in theft of motor vehicle offences between 2014/15 and 2018/19, but crime levels have fallen since then.

“Theft of motor vehicle offences fell by 4.9 per cent between 2018/19 and 2019/20, and is down 13.5 per cent if you compare the 12 months ending June 2020 with the 12 months to June 2019. Comparing April – June 2020 with April – June 2019 shows a larger decrease of 26.6 per cent.”

However this does not completely reverse the overall trend from five years ago.

For information on keeping your vehicle safe visit: www.cambs.police.uk/A-Z/Vehicle-security

Simon Williams, RAC Insurance spokesman, said: “These figures paint a rather disturbing picture.

“Vehicle thefts are on the rise almost everywhere, and in some parts of the country numbers are rocketing.

“It’s also not the case that the rises in crime are confined to a few larger urban areas, with many police forces covering more rural areas also seeing big increases.

“While vehicle crime is at far lower levels today than it was in the early 1990s thanks to improvements in vehicle security, and the number of vehicles licensed to be driven on the UK’s roads is higher than at any point in the past, it’s still concerning that so many more vehicles are being stolen than just a few years ago.”

Key trends in vehicle crime in the last few years have seen thefts of tools from vans or vans being stolen for parts and burned out. Catalytic converters have also been targeted by thieves while vehicles have been parked outside homes. Keyless ignition systems on cars had also become a trend with thieves managing to access vehicles by hacking the owner’s keys left indoors.

The force that saw the biggest hike in offences was Suffolk Constabulary, where incidents increased by 172 per cent, from 347 to 945.

This was followed by Surrey Police, with a 133 per cent increase, from 661 to 1,543.

Mr Williams believes the increase is partly due to a rise in thefts of vehicles that are easier to steal, such as motorbikes and mopeds which are less likely to have immobilisers.

Government data shows that thieves use a key in nearly half of incidents, indicating that many drivers can do more to protect their vehicles.

Mr Williams went on: “Based on these figures, it’s vital drivers take steps to protect themselves and avoid being an easy target. Three of the biggest factors that determine whether a car is stolen or not come down to how it’s secured, where it’s kept and the time of day. Criminals appear to prefer stealing vehicles at night, with those parked at owners’ homes, presumably where there is easier access to a key, also being favoured.

“While organised criminal gangs are responsible for a large proportion of crime, thieves will also be opportunistic in nature so the more a driver can do to make their car a less likely target the better.”

Stolen vehicle recovery expert Tracker is warning drivers that the figures could be significantly higher for 2020. New car production ground to a hold as a result of the global epidemic, causing delays to the supply chain and creating a shortage of spare parts. A pent-up demand for both new cars and parts is likely to increase values and boost trade for criminals stealing to fill the gap.

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker commented: “Even before the UK’s lockdown, police across the country were fighting an increasing number of ‘chop-shops’ – where vehicles are stolen, and their valuable parts sold on as spares. Delays within the legitimate supply chain caused by manufacturers being forced to close, and then reopen with lower capacity, are bound to increase the popularity and profitability of these criminal organisations.”

He continued: “Our own stolen and recovered figures mirror the RAC Insurance’s findings, with the biggest increases in London and the surrounding counties, as well as the West Midlands. We expect to see increases across all regions when the 2020 figures come out next year, due to the impact lockdown has had on manufacturing. Whilst we face the increased risk, drivers must take precautions to better-protect their vehicles from opportunistic criminals.”