News & Features

Car Crime Statistics

Posted in General News on Monday, April 29th, 2024

Howden Insurance analysed the number of car crimes reported by each police force over the last year, using data from the Department for Transport (DfT) and scaled this to per 1,000 registered vehicles, to identify the safest and riskiest areas for new car owners. West Yorkshire was identified as the most dangerous, with 5.35 thefts per 1,000 registered vehicles, the national average being 1.94. In second place was Nottinghamshire, with 4.65 car crimes per 1,000 registered vehicles. Kent ranks third, with 2.80 car thefts per 1,000 registered vehicles this is 44% higher than the national average. Merseyside and Surrey rank close behind, placing fourth and fifth, with 2.75 and 2.57 car thefts per 1,000 vehicles, respectively.  

In addition to revealing the areas which see the most car crimes, the study also showed which counties are most proactive around vehicle security, based on Google searches for popular security devices made over the last year. Terms analysed include dashcam, wheel clamp, car theft deterrent, how to prevent car theft, driveway security, home CCTV, and more. Searches were scaled against local populations to get a monthly interest rate per 100,000 residents. Coming in first position with 1,893 searches per 100,000 residents was the West Midlands. The most popular security device is a steering wheel lock as this accounted for 24% of all searches. The region has suffered 7,232 car thefts over the past year.   Second on the list was Greater Manchester, with 1,754 monthly searches per 100,000, dashcams were revealed to be the most sought-after device.  In third with 1,725 searches per 100,000 residents was Essex, followed by Lancashire with 1,260 searches per 100,000 people.    

Nationwide, the most popular security devices are as follows: dashcams, security cameras, CCTV, steering wheel locks, and security lights. A Howden insurance spokesperson commented: “With the constant influx of new drivers taking to the road, it’s crucial they consider the security of their vehicles when going away. Whether owners leave cars unattended at their homes or use them to travel to their holiday destination, valuables must never be left inside. The popularity of dashcams is interesting; with the constant rise in licenced drivers on the roads, it’s encouraging to see drivers document their journeys for safety and insurance purposes. Make sure that you’re also parking in a secure location if leaving your car unattended for an extended period – especially if you’re situated in a country where car crime is prevalent.”  

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