IN THE KNOW
England’s car theft hotspots revealed as expert urges drivers to pick up Amazon gadget that prevents ‘keyless’ break-in
Plus three top tips to keep your vehicle safe
England's worst car theft hotspots have been revealed as a wave of motor-related crime sweeps the nation.
Data from the DVLA shows that thefts have soared, reaching an all-time high in 2023.
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Experts from have now ranked the areas of England and Wales that saw the highest theft rates that year.
The West Midlands was the worst region overall, with five of the top ten falling within its boundaries.
Two of the UK's biggest cities - Manchester and Birmingham - were also represented though London was not as it was broken down into boroughs.
Perhaps surprisingly, only one area of the capital made the list, that being Ilford in the city's east.
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Based on the top 10, the far North and Wales performed the best, with no representation in the table, while the South West only appeared once - Bristol in 10th.
Slough, Berkshire took the number three spot, with a theft rate of 0.36%.
It was narrowly beaten out by Birmingham, with its rate of 0.37%.
Top spot was then claimed by a distance by nearby Solihull, which clocked in at 0.45%.
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Fortunately, experts from CarMats were able to share some top tips for protecting your motor from crooks.
First of all, they urged Brits not to leave anything on display when they park up for even a short time.
Items like wallets, phones, sat navs and cash can all attract the attention of thieves.
Secondly, they recommended investing in extra security measures to deter attempts at pilfering your car.
Getting hold of a steering lock or visible alarm can be a great way to put criminals off, while cameras in your garage or driveway can provide vital evidence to cops if your car is pinched.
Finally, the experts revealed a handy gadget that can help combat "keyless" thefts.
A spokesperson said: "As technology is getting more sophisticated, so are criminals.
"Keyless car theft is still on the rise, as thieves have advanced their approach and are using relay devices to unlock cars and override security systems."
A relay device intercepts a signal from your key fob and recreates it, as good as handing the keys over yourself.
And with the increase of keyless ignition systems, they won't even have to hotwire the vehicle to drive it away.
You can protect against this by picking up a Faraday pouch to store your keys in.
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The simple key cover blocks signals being emitted by your keys, so they can't be picked up when they aren't in use.
Faraday pouches are available on Amazon for as little as £8.
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