West Midlands is the worst region for car theft, a new study by What Car? has revealed.

West Midlands is the worst region for theft by population, with 2.64 thefts per 1000 people

Although there were fewer car thefts in the West Midlands than there were in London (7694 vs 14,106), those living in England’s second most populous region are far more likely to have their car taken, according to What Car? analysis of DVLA data.

In 2024, 2.64 cars were stolen for every 1,000 people living in the West Midlands, compared with 1.58 vehicle thefts per 1000 people in Greater London.

In contrast, just 0.17 cars per 1000 people were stolen from Cumbria and 0.11 from the whole of Northern Ireland.

At a national level, car owners in England are eight times more likely to have their car taken than those in Northern Ireland, four times as likely as those in Wales, and twice as likely as those in Scotland.

England is also the most prevalent for high-end car theft, with nine of the 10 most expensive cars stolen from there and only one from Northern Ireland.

The priciest model to be taken in 2024 was a nearly new Ferrari Purosangue luxury SUV with a value of around £375,000. On its own, it’s worth 75times more than the most frequently stolen vehicle, the 2016 Ford Fiesta, which has an average value of £5,000.

What Car? consumer editor Claire Evans, said: “Regardless of the value of your car, a good quality steering wheel lock is recommended, along with a faraday bag – a tiny key-storage pouch which blocks the signal from your key to the car.

“It’s a shocking statistic that 44% of cars are accessed via an unlocked door and 80% of thefts take place at night or in the dark, so simple measures such as always checking your car is locked and parking in a well-lit location can also help.”