Car thieves have a 50 PER CENT chance of getting away with stealing your motor, according to study
Court reports show how many fail to end up with a conviction in a number of cases
CAR thieves have a 50-50 chance of escaping a conviction for stealing your car, according to a new study.
Just half of the cases of motor theft that went to court over a five-year period actually resulted in a conviction.
Conducted by Churchill Car Insurance, the study found in 7,405 cases from 2012-2016, just 3,696 sentences were handed down.
But even more alarming was the number of cars reported stolen in the same period compared to the relatively low conviction rate.
Almost 380,000 vehicles were nicked across the five years - equating to more than 100 cars for every conviction handed out.
That means just two per cent of cars stolen resulted in someone being fined, jailed or given community service.
Tips for protecting yourself from car theft
- Keep the vehicle locked: Always double-check that your car is locked before leaving your vehicle. Never leave the engine running when you are not with it, and unless you have a secure parking garage, ensure the car is locked when parked outside your home.
- Invest in the right technology: Most modern cars are fitted with alarms and immobilisers as standard. But thieves’ technology is advancing, so applying extra safety mechanisms can go a long way. Steering wheel, pedal and gear locks can be off-putting to criminals, while tracking devices or CCTV systems fitted near your car can help track down your vehicle and the perpetrator if it is stolen.
- Keep your keys safe: The easiest way for a criminal to steal a car is by taking the keys, so always ensure you store your keys out of sight of doors or windows.
- Block signals: Some manufacturers make it possible to switch your key off. If this is not possible for your car, put your key in a metal container to block signals - even your fridge makes a secure storage place.
- Park smart: If you don’t have the luxury of a private garage or off-street parking, try to park in a well-lit, populated area whenever possible. Thieves will always target vehicles left in areas where they have little chance of being seen, so parking in side roads or areas away from street lights could put your vehicle at risk.
Car theft is a growing problem with more than 200 reported stolen every day as hi-tech crooks target keyless systems.
Gangs can pick up a gadget online for a few hundred pounds that will let them get into a motor without even smashing a window.
And figures show vehicle theft accounts for a fifth of all recorded motor offences.
Steve Barrett, head of car insurance at Churchill, said more needed to be done to make sure people were punished for stealing cars.
Everything you need to know about car theft
He said: "As well as being a harrowing experience, having your car stolen can be a huge inconvenience, with many people reliant on their cars on a daily basis.
"We believe the punishment needs to reflect the impact of the crime, with greater sentences and fines for the theft of a vehicle.
"Given the risks, however, it is important owners make their vehicles as difficult to steal as possible and to have measures in place so that if it is stolen, there is a way of locating it and identifying the perpetrator."