Vehicle thefts in the UK have risen by nearly a third (29.7%) to 115,822 since 2020 as criminals capitalise on the rising value of cars and components.

Vehicle thefts are up by 30% since 2020 and in most cases are significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels

A new study by AX Track spotlights the startling rebound in car crime since the pandemic began, showing that thefts also increased by nearly a quarter (23.9%) between 2021 and 2022.

Using data from Freedom of Information requests, the tracing and recovery specialist found London and the West Midlands experienced the highest number of vehicle thefts in the UK, with 32,766 and 12,429 incidents respectively in 2022.

The data, received from 40 out of 45 FOIs issued to UK polices forces, also shows many regions saw a large increases of over 50% between 2020 and 2022, including Hampshire, Devon & Cornwall, Kent, Humberside, West Midlands, Northumbria and Staffordshire.

However, some regions performed better, with North Wales, Suffolk and Sussex seeing a drop in vehicle thefts between 2020 and 2022, improving on already lower figures resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The study also reviewed data from 2019 and found in many areas – 20 out of 27 police forces where the data was comparable – incidents in 2022 surpassed levels seen in 2019. Thefts in Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Devon & Cornwall, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands amongst others all rebounded beyond 2019’s vehicle theft figures.

The firm said rising values of used cars and vehicle components were likely driving increased crime. The global automotive aftermarket for replacement parts and accessories is estimated at $390bn. The easy availability and increasing sophistication of electronics equipment that thieves can use to open a car in as little as 60 seconds is also a key factor.

Top 10 areas with the biggest increase in car thefts between 2020 and 2022

Neil Thomas, director of investigative services at AX Track, said: “The technology-driven tactics of today’s sophisticated criminals are a far cry from the opportunist teenagers of the past who would steal cars for fun.

“Our study shows a huge rebound since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but in many cases, we are seeing thefts surge ahead of the pre-pandemic figures from 2019. It’s a worrying trend, but not entirely unexpected given the increasingly sophisticated techniques that criminals are deploying.

“Equipment costing thousands of pounds can be purchased online, enabling criminals and their associates to steal cars by either cloning or mimicking the original key. Keyless theft can take several forms and it’s prevalent enough that criminals are stealing cars to order, identifying the right car while organising false numberplates before the theft even takes place.”

He added: “As used car values rise, an undamaged and valuable car is a significant incentive for criminals who often don’t get caught. We’ve even heard from some people in car crime hotspots that they leave their car open in the hope it might be recovered and returned undamaged.”

Top 10 areas with the smallest increase/reduction in car thefts between 2020 and 2022

Full regional theft statistics are available at AX Track.