The car industry is winning the race to prevent car crime. The industry have released recent figures from last year showing just 107,000 cars were stolen, compared to 600,000 that were stolen 20 years ago. The drop is due to the much improved security installed by car manufacturers over the recent years, for example since 1997 it has been compulsory for all new cars to be fitted with immobilisers.
Although the figure on car crime has dropped dramatically, it has increased the number of house burglaries as thieves opted to break into houses to obtain car keys according to the police. Director of motor research insurance repair centre, Andrew Miller, stated that the drop was due to security devices such as alarms, locks, immobilisers, toughened glass and tracking devices that are fitted to new cars. A recent statement released by the police showed that one-fifth of cars stolen last year had been taken in house burglaries which equates to 20,000. Detective inspector Mark Hooper, at the association of chief of police officers crime intelligence service said “Burglars are now more brazen. Where once a fishing rod through a letter box was a common thing, they’ll now walk into the back of the house while you’re watching telly.”
According to AVCIS the thieves favourite target was a ford transit van commonly used by builders and tradesman because the spares were easy to sell on the black market as they were so common, as well as the added bonus of the tools left in the back. Second is the Vauxhall Astra followed by the ford fiesta. Volkswagen golf, ford focus and BMW 3 series were also in the top 10 cars to be stolen.