DVLA information present that automobile theft is rampant within the UK, with 48,500 automobiles stolen final yr, equal to at least one each 11 minutes.
Information from ONS paints a good bleaker image: 72% of automobiles are by no means returned to their house owners after being taken by thieves.
Automobile safety agency Vehicle Defence lately launched data on which fashions have been focused most frequently, which revealed the most well-liked automobiles with thieves are dominated by a mixture of status fashions and a few of Britain’s finest sellers.
Beginning at quantity 10, the Mercedes E Class was reported stolen 818 occasions final yr. The Vauxhall Astra got here in ninth place with 1,096 thefts, adopted by the Vauxhall Corsa with 1,218 circumstances. The Land Rover Discovery was seventh with 1,260 thefts and the BMW 3 collection was sixth with 1,464 circumstances. The Mercedes C-Class ranked fifth with 1,474 reviews whereas VW Golf got here 4th at 1,755 thefts. The Ford Focus was third on the listing with an alarming 1,912 reviews adopted by Vary Rover at 2nd place with 3,754 circumstances. Topping this unlucky listing is the Ford Fiesta, which had a staggering 3,909 reviews final yr.
“Criminals are at all times on the lookout for methods to steal automobiles, so it’s important that drivers take all needed precautions,” says Will Cheshire, Director at Automobile Defence. “Figuring out which fashions are being focused will assist individuals establish any potential dangers and take motion accordingly.” This bears explicit significance when you dwell in Birmingham or Manchester, that are two of essentially the most riskiest locations exterior of the London space to go away your automobile, adopted by Salford, Rochdale and Oldham.
To guard your automobile from being stolen, Will recommends utilizing an anti-theft machine equivalent to an immobiliser or tracker as thieves are far much less more likely to goal a automobile that has one fitted.
He additionally recommends drivers to vary the locks on their automobile doorways recurrently and concentrate on any suspicious exercise of their space. ‘’One of the best ways to guard your self towards automobile theft is to remain vigilant and ensure your automobile is as safe as doable,” he advises. With the correct safety measures in place and a little bit of frequent sense, drivers can defend their automobiles and keep one step forward of criminals.
Different high suggestions for maintaining your automobile protected embrace:
- Hold Your Automobile in a Storage – among the best methods to maintain your automobile protected from thieves is to maintain it in a storage. In the event you don’t have a storage, attempt to park your automobile in a well-lit and busy space. Thieves are much less more likely to goal a automobile that’s in a well-lit and busy space as there’s much less likelihood of them getting away with the theft undetected.
- Hold Your Automobile Locked – many automobile thefts are opportunistic, so by maintaining your automobile locked you’re making it harder for thieves to steal your automobile. You must also keep away from leaving valuables in your automobile as this could make it extra tempting for thieves.
- Set up an Alarm System – an alarm system will make it harder for thieves to steal your automobile and also will act as a deterrent, because the loud noise of the alarm will entice consideration.
- Test Your Insurance coverage Cowl – it’s best to examine your insurance coverage cowl to just be sure you are absolutely lined within the occasion of your automobile being stolen.
Maintaining these further measures in thoughts will assist scale back the chance of being a sufferer of crime, providing you with peace of thoughts relating to the security and safety of your automobile. Nevertheless, when you suspect that your automobile has been stolen, ensure that to report it to the police instantly.
