Covent Garden has been named the least safe place to park your car in an analysis of 200 of the UK’s busiest car parks. Of the car parks in the top 10, three are in London and three are in Bristol.
The figures reveal a staggering 368 vehicle crimes per year in Covent Garden. That’s more than one a day.
Meanwhile, the car park at Exeter St David’s is the safest. There was just one recorded crime between April 2019 and March 2020.
Four out of the 10 safest car parks in the UK are attached to a railway station. This suggests a higher level of security at these locations.
USwitch, the company behind the research, looked at a range of vehicle crimes when collating the data. The list includes aggravated vehicle taking, theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, interference with a motor vehicle, and theft from vehicle other than a motor vehicle.
Aside from Bristol, the least safe car parks are concentrated in the South East. On the other hand, there’s a wider geographic spread for the safest car parks.
Top 10 least safe car parks
[av_table purpose=’pricing’ pricing_table_design=’avia_pricing_default’ pricing_hidden_cells=” caption=” responsive_styling=’avia_responsive_table’ id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-8rtimcux’] [av_row row_style=’avia-heading-row’ av_uid=’av-2dy91hbq1′][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-2dc32odg9′]Car park / city[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-2b937uba1′]Annual vehicle crimes[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-2aqvn7jix’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-28n65jlp5′]1. Covent Garden, London[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-27lj6jd3t’]368[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-26blj2nbt’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-25anuzmah’]2. Mayfair, London[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-24epso2vt’]273[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-2344zoi6x’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-7af4bqu1′]3. Pavilion Road, London[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-79f8d449′]266[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-1ypyehlsp’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-6yk3rjbt’]4. Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1wj6fq2zd’]245[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-1uw6xogwp’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1t9yq02zd’]5. Nelson Street, Bristol[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1syemdyqh’]230[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-1qv6nti55′][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1qeswry1l’]6. New Street, Birmingham[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1opj1rndl’]169[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-1n3q1u1zt’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1m3omqal5′]7. Prince Street, Bristol[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1kpmgt0gp’]153[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-1josrm0m1′][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1idgccjo9′]8. Knox Road, Cardiff[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1gnbpxztl’]146[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-1fxuog1zt’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1ee53f34p’]9. Wandle, Croydon[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1dosukuqh’]142[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-1bodrsk9l’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1a57v9fa1′]10. Crasswell Street, Portsmouth[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-198zvpswp’]140[/av_cell][/av_row] [/av_table]
Top 10 safest car parks
[av_table purpose=’pricing’ pricing_table_design=’avia_pricing_default’ pricing_hidden_cells=” caption=” responsive_styling=’avia_responsive_table’ id=” custom_class=” av_uid=’av-18lu6wjyx’] [av_row row_style=’avia-heading-row’ av_uid=’av-16xj26jo9′][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-15kegv7kp’]Car park / city[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-1435ozz89′]Annual vehicle crimes[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-12pm7uiop’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-3tlp5t3t’]1. St David’s, Exeter[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-10vmichax’]1[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-3kg9b2qh’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-xv1pnq55′]2. King Street, Stockport[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-wt06q17d’]2[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-uubycxi1′][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-ug1abbtl’]3. Central Station, Exeter[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-t7k851qx’]4[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-r2c5qnmh’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-podguejd’]4. Grand Arcade, Wigan[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-p4aqzqqh’]6[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-nh003dax’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-msi0sdy1′]5. Rother Street, Stratford-upon-Avon[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-l71rakd5′]7[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-k7ulq1zt’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-it8lcly1′]6. Thornaby Station, Stockton[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-h3ko9v2x’]8[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-gki6ai3d’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-er7lrc7t’]7. Station South, York[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-ddtwzleh’]10[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-bpnwtymx’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-bclke26x’]8. Llandudno Station, Llandudno[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-9bgurw2h’]11[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-8tlipvyx’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-71kxbrtl’]9. Pescod Square, Boston[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-23fn0gp’]13[/av_cell][/av_row] [av_row row_style=” av_uid=’av-4klnavbt’][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-2tbogn4p’]10. Oxford Street, Belfast[/av_cell][av_cell col_style=” av_uid=’av-2i6slbfd’]14[/av_cell][/av_row] [/av_table]
How to keep your car safe
Here is some advice on how to keep your car safe in a car park. The information is based on official guidance issued by the Met Police:
- Lock your doors and close your windows
- Secure the number plates and alloy wheels
- Protect external items
- Hide personal belongings and devices
- Consider a comprehensive insurance policy for your car
- Choose your car park wisely and prioritise well-lit areas
- Never leave documentation in the vehicle
We’d also add the purchase of a steering wheel lock to the list. This highly visible security device could deter opportunist thieves. It’s also effective against keyless car thieves.