Theft from cars rockets across Britain with smartphones and sat navs targeted – how to keep your car safe
Brits reported more than 239,000 cases of items being stolen from cars during a 12-month period. But there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your vehicle isn't targeted
CAR break-ins are on the rise right across the UK, with more than half of the nation's police forces reporting a spike in motor smash and grab cases.
A recent report has revealed car theft has risen across 26 different regions, with main problem areas focused mainly in England and Wales.
Released by the RAC, records showed that were 239,920 vehicle break-ins in 2016, almost 8,700 more than in 2015.
And while overall this represents a four per cent increase, theft hotspots in major British cities saw a far more concerning rise in crime rates.
London was the region worst hit by theft from vehicles, with the City of London police reporting a spike of 76 per cent across the 12-month period.
Northamptonshire experienced the second largest rise of 41 per cent, while Wiltshire and regions covered by the Welsh Dyfed-Powys police saw increases of more than 20 per cent.
Tips to prevent your car being broken into
- Remove all valuables: If you must leave them inside your car, be sure to hide them from plain sight
- Protect your audio system: Remove the faceplate of your car radio and hide it in the glovebox
- Don't leave any money: Even loose change in your cup holders could attract thieves
- Install a car alarm: Advertise it with a warning sticker on your window. If you can't afford the alarm system, a dummy sticker can sometimes be enough to ward off crooks
- Always park in a well lit area: Avoid quiet backstreets and alleyways if possible
According to the RAC, cases are expected to be significantly dominated by opportunist thieves rather than organised criminals.
Similar to recent years, most perpetrators are still targeting valuable electrical items like smartphones and sat navs.
RAC Insurance director Mark Godfrey said: “It is very worrying to see that more than half of British police forces have witnessed a rise in (the number of thefts from vehicles) from 2015 to 2016.
“The old advice of making sure nothing of value is left on display inside a car is still as valid as ever, but it is also important when parking in public places to try to opt for well-lit and well used spots so as to make it harder for criminals to break in without being seen.
“Anyone unlucky enough to suffer a vehicle break-in should report it to the police as soon as possible and obtain a crime reference number which will assist with the subsequent insurance claim.”
Earlier this year, we reported on the top 10 things to be stolen from your car.
At the top of the list were car radios, while shopping bags, sat navs and mobile phone made up the rest of the top four.