The number of cars stolen in the UK fell by 15 percent last year. This was likely due, in part, to the pandemic, with drivers looking after their cars as they spent more time at home.
According to figures obtained by Compare the Market via a Freedom of Information request, 28,454 cars were stolen in the UK in 2020. That compares to 33,289 in 2019.
Based on data from 26 police forces, Birmingham West is the hotspot for cars being stolen, with 1,375 thefts in 2020. It’s followed by Sheffield (1,123) and Liverpool (1,062).
Doncaster – ranked as the fifth most likely place to have a car stolen – saw thefts increase by eight percent in 2020 compared with figures from 2019, however.
93 percent of thefts are keyless
According to vehicle tracking company, Tracker, keyless car theft accounted for 93 percent of stolen cars last year.
“There are measures you can put in place to help reduce the chance of your car being stolen, but nothing can keep your vehicle 100 percent secure,” said Dan Hutson of Compare the Market. “You need to make sure you have an insurance policy that covers theft, so you don’t end up out of pocket if a criminal strikes.”
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