Nearly a quarter of a million vehicles were broken into in 2016,
with 26 police forces – more than half of all those in England,
Scotland and Wales – seeing more thefts from cars than the
previous year, according to data seen by RAC Insurance*.
A total of 239,920 vehicle break-ins were reported
to 42 police forces – 8,698 more than in 2015
(231,222), representing a 4% increase. However, this is a 9%
reduction on 2013 when there were 263,574 thefts from vehicles.
Responses to a freedom of information request made by RAC
Insurance reveal that the City of London constabulary saw the
largest rise with a 76% increase (46 to 81). Northamptonshire
experienced the second greatest rise with 41% (2,864 to 4,043).
Wiltshire Police (1,680 to 2,074) and Dyfed-Powys (446 to 549)
were joint third with a 23% increase.
Of the 15 forces that recorded reductions in thefts from vehicles
from 2015 to 2016 Cheshire Constabulary saw the largest fall in
such crimes with 19% fewer (2,827 to 2,284). Cumbria’s numbers
for the offence went down by 11% (780 to 697) and North Wales
Police’s by 10% (1,326 to 1,187).
|
Rank
|
Police Force
|
Reported thefts from vehicles
|
Percentage change
|
|
|
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2015 to 2016
|
|
1
|
City of London Police
|
63
|
99
|
46
|
81
|
76%
|
|
2
|
Northamptonshire Police
|
3480
|
2803
|
2864
|
4043
|
41%
|
|
3
|
Wiltshire Police
|
2349
|
1842
|
1680
|
2074
|
23%
|
|
4
|
Dyfed-Powys Police
|
702
|
708
|
446
|
549
|
23%
|
|
5
|
Lancashire Constabulary
|
6187
|
5778
|
5440
|
6382
|
17%
|
Comparing the data from 2013 and 2016 the City of London also had
the highest uplift in thefts from vehicles with an increase of
29% (63 to 81). West Midlands Police experienced a 21% rise
(15,261 to 18,396) and Northamptonshire a 16% uplift (3,480 to
4,043).
When looking at the largest reduction over the three-year period
Cheshire topped the table again with a 45% drop (4,185 to 2,284).
North Wales Police had the second biggest reduction on 33% (1,778
to 1,187) and Durham the third on 32% (2,687 to 1,840).
|
Rank
|
Police Force
|
Reported thefts from vehicles
|
Percentage change
|
|
|
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2013 to 2016
|
|
1
|
City of London Police
|
63
|
99
|
46
|
81
|
29%
|
|
2
|
West Midlands Police
|
15261
|
15949
|
16563
|
18396
|
21%
|
|
3
|
Northamptonshire Police
|
3480
|
2803
|
2864
|
4043
|
16%
|
|
4
|
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
|
3326
|
2957
|
3318
|
3860
|
16%
|
|
5
|
Leicestershire Police
|
5511
|
5375
|
6697
|
6327
|
15%
|
RAC Insurance director Mark Godfrey said: “Even though police
data shows the number of thefts from vehicles has fallen by 9% in
the three years from 2013, it is very worrying to see that more
than half of British police forces have witnessed a rise in this
type of crime from 2015 to 2016.
“Breaking into cars to steal things causes motorists no end of
headaches. Not only do they lose and have to try to replace their
valued possessions, most will have to make an insurance claim to
get their car repaired. While this can be a time-consuming and
stressful process in itself, its effects will unfortunately be
felt for years to come with increased annual premiums and having
to declare the claim for three years whenever arranging a new car
insurance policy.
“The old advice of making sure nothing of value is left on
display inside a car is still as valid as ever, but it is also
important when parking in public places to try to opt for
well-lit and well used spots so as to make it harder for
criminals to break in without being seen.
“Anyone unlucky enough to suffer a vehicle break-in should report
it to the police as soon as possible and obtain a crime reference
number which will assist with the subsequent insurance claim.”
Drivers looking for advice on how to avoid being a victim of car
crime can look at the RAC’s online guide.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
* RAC Insurance made a freedom of information request to all 44
British police forces about thefts from vehicles from 2013 to
2016. Two forces –South Wales Police and Sussex Police did not
provide any data. Two others – Gwent and Warwickshire – were only
able to provide data for 2014 to 2016.
Data ranked by % change 2015 to 2016
|
Rank
|
Police Force
|
Reported thefts from vehicles
|
Percentage change
|
|
|
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2015 to 2016
|
|
1
|
City of London Police
|
63
|
99
|
46
|
81
|
76%
|
|
2
|
Northamptonshire Police
|
3480
|
2803
|
2864
|
4043
|
41%
|
|
3
|
Wiltshire Police
|
2349
|
1842
|
1680
|
2074
|
23%
|
|
4
|
Dyfed-Powys Police
|
702
|
708
|
446
|
549
|
23%
|
|
5
|
Lancashire Constabulary
|
6187
|
5778
|
5440
|
6382
|
17%
|
|
6
|
Warwickshire Police
|
n/a
|
1210
|
1130
|
1321
|
17%
|
|
7
|
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
|
3326
|
2957
|
3318
|
3860
|
16%
|
|
8
|
Cleveland Police
|
2297
|
2026
|
2112
|
2444
|
16%
|
|
9
|
Bedfordshire Constabulary
|
3559
|
3439
|
3408
|
3937
|
16%
|
|
10
|
Northumbria Police
|
4593
|
3772
|
3933
|
4375
|
11%
|
|
11
|
West Midlands Police
|
15261
|
15949
|
16563
|
18396
|
11%
|
|
12
|
Gwent Police
|
n/a
|
455
|
497
|
552
|
11%
|
|
13
|
Avon and Somerset
|
6627
|
6597
|
6809
|
7547
|
11%
|
|
14
|
Durham Constabulary
|
2687
|
2064
|
1680
|
1840
|
10%
|
|
15
|
West Yorkshire Police
|
16979
|
14088
|
14039
|
15330
|
9%
|
|
16
|
Hampshire Constabulary
|
5922
|
4909
|
5578
|
6040
|
8%
|
|
17
|
South Yorkshire Police
|
8753
|
6943
|
7028
|
7602
|
8%
|
|
18
|
Thames Valley Police
|
12118
|
9323
|
8992
|
9681
|
8%
|
|
19
|
Kent Police
|
7,340
|
6,974
|
6,408
|
6,678
|
4%
|
|
20
|
Gloucestershire Constabulary
|
2366
|
2267
|
2003
|
2082
|
4%
|
|
21
|
Surrey Police
|
3406
|
2890
|
2964
|
3067
|
3%
|
|
22
|
Devon & Cornwall Police
|
4262
|
3743
|
3197
|
3293
|
3%
|
|
23
|
Hertfordshire Constabulary
|
4339
|
3844
|
4324
|
4446
|
3%
|
|
24
|
Metropolitan Police
|
64107
|
52564
|
50320
|
51691
|
3%
|
|
25
|
Suffolk Constabulary
|
2936
|
2383
|
2150
|
2206
|
3%
|
|
26
|
Humberside Police
|
3346
|
3467
|
3457
|
3494
|
1%
|
|
27
|
Lincolnshire Police
|
2416
|
2217
|
1957
|
1960
|
0%
|
|
28
|
Greater Manchester Police
|
16296
|
15564
|
16220
|
15959
|
-2%
|
|
29
|
Derbyshire Constabulary
|
4235
|
3938
|
4036
|
3940
|
-2%
|
|
30
|
Staffordshire Police
|
3112
|
3147
|
3162
|
3073
|
-3%
|
|
31
|
Police Scotland
|
7512
|
7299
|
6569
|
6304
|
-4%
|
|
32
|
Leicestershire Police
|
5511
|
5375
|
6697
|
6327
|
-6%
|
|
33
|
Merseyside Police
|
6130
|
6100
|
5950
|
5566
|
-6%
|
|
34
|
Nottinghamshire Police
|
5048
|
5065
|
4781
|
4470
|
-7%
|
|
35
|
Norfolk Constabulary
|
1866
|
1574
|
1532
|
1425
|
-7%
|
|
36
|
North Yorkshire Police
|
2036
|
1625
|
1540
|
1430
|
-7%
|
|
37
|
West Mercia Police
|
2844
|
2758
|
2287
|
2098
|
-8%
|
|
38
|
Essex Police
|
9084
|
7543
|
8200
|
7481
|
-9%
|
|
39
|
Dorset Police
|
3577
|
2861
|
2972
|
2708
|
-9%
|
|
40
|
North Wales Police
|
1778
|
1465
|
1326
|
1187
|
-10%
|
|
41
|
Cumbria Constabulary
|
939
|
759
|
780
|
697
|
-11%
|
|
42
|
Cheshire Constabulary
|
4185
|
3604
|
2827
|
2284
|
-19%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Wales Police
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
Sussex Police
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
263,574
|
233,988
|
231,222
|
239,920
|
4%
|
Data ranked by % change 2013 to 2016
|
Rank
|
Police Force
|
Reported thefts from vehicles
|
Percentage change
|
|
|
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2013 to 2016
|
|
1
|
City of London Police
|
63
|
99
|
46
|
81
|
29%
|
|
2
|
West Midlands Police
|
15261
|
15949
|
16563
|
18396
|
21%
|
|
3
|
Northamptonshire Police
|
3480
|
2803
|
2864
|
4043
|
16%
|
|
4
|
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
|
3326
|
2957
|
3318
|
3860
|
16%
|
|
5
|
Leicestershire Police
|
5511
|
5375
|
6697
|
6327
|
15%
|
|
6
|
Avon and Somerset
|
6627
|
6597
|
6809
|
7547
|
14%
|
|
7
|
Bedfordshire Constabulary
|
3559
|
3439
|
3408
|
3937
|
11%
|
|
8
|
Cleveland Police
|
2297
|
2026
|
2112
|
2444
|
6%
|
|
9
|
Humberside Police
|
3346
|
3467
|
3457
|
3494
|
4%
|
|
10
|
Lancashire Constabulary
|
6187
|
5778
|
5440
|
6382
|
3%
|
|
11
|
Hertfordshire Constabulary
|
4339
|
3844
|
4324
|
4446
|
2%
|
|
12
|
Hampshire Constabulary
|
5922
|
4909
|
5578
|
6040
|
2%
|
|
13
|
Staffordshire Police
|
3112
|
3147
|
3162
|
3073
|
-1%
|
|
14
|
Greater Manchester Police
|
16296
|
15564
|
16220
|
15959
|
-2%
|
|
15
|
Northumbria Police
|
4593
|
3772
|
3933
|
4375
|
-5%
|
|
16
|
Derbyshire Constabulary
|
4235
|
3938
|
4036
|
3940
|
-7%
|
|
17
|
Kent Police
|
7,340
|
6,974
|
6,408
|
6,678
|
-9%
|
|
18
|
Merseyside Police
|
6130
|
6100
|
5950
|
5566
|
-9%
|
|
19
|
West Yorkshire Police
|
16979
|
14088
|
14039
|
15330
|
-10%
|
|
20
|
Surrey Police
|
3406
|
2890
|
2964
|
3067
|
-10%
|
|
21
|
Nottinghamshire Police
|
5048
|
5065
|
4781
|
4470
|
-11%
|
|
22
|
Wiltshire Police
|
2349
|
1842
|
1680
|
2074
|
-12%
|
|
23
|
Gloucestershire Constabulary
|
2366
|
2267
|
2003
|
2082
|
-12%
|
|
24
|
South Yorkshire Police
|
8753
|
6943
|
7028
|
7602
|
-13%
|
|
25
|
Police Scotland
|
7512
|
7299
|
6569
|
6304
|
-16%
|
|
26
|
Essex Police
|
9084
|
7543
|
8200
|
7481
|
-18%
|
|
27
|
Lincolnshire Police
|
2416
|
2217
|
1957
|
1960
|
-19%
|
|
28
|
Metropolitan Police
|
64107
|
52564
|
50320
|
51691
|
-19%
|
|
29
|
Thames Valley Police
|
12118
|
9323
|
8992
|
9681
|
-20%
|
|
30
|
Dyfed-Powys Police
|
702
|
708
|
446
|
549
|
-22%
|
|
31
|
Devon & Cornwall Police
|
4262
|
3743
|
3197
|
3293
|
-23%
|
|
32
|
Norfolk Constabulary
|
1866
|
1574
|
1532
|
1425
|
-24%
|
|
33
|
Dorset Police
|
3577
|
2861
|
2972
|
2708
|
-24%
|
|
34
|
Suffolk Constabulary
|
2936
|
2383
|
2150
|
2206
|
-25%
|
|
35
|
Cumbria Constabulary
|
939
|
759
|
780
|
697
|
-26%
|
|
36
|
West Mercia Police
|
2844
|
2758
|
2287
|
2098
|
-26%
|
|
37
|
North Yorkshire Police
|
2036
|
1625
|
1540
|
1430
|
-30%
|
|
38
|
Durham Constabulary
|
2687
|
2064
|
1680
|
1840
|
-32%
|
|
39
|
North Wales Police
|
1778
|
1465
|
1326
|
1187
|
-33%
|
|
40
|
Cheshire Constabulary
|
4185
|
3604
|
2827
|
2284
|
-45%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gwent Police
|
n/a
|
455
|
497
|
552
|
n/a
|
|
|
South Wales Police
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
Sussex Police
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
Warwickshire Police
|
n/a
|
1210
|
1130
|
1321
|
n/a
|
|
|
|
263,574
|
232,323
|
229,595
|
239,920
|
-9%
|
