Vehicle Crime

Most vehicle crime is opportunistic and therefore preventable. By following some straightforward advice, and working together, we can ensure that this type of crime keeps falling.

There has been some success in reducing vehicle crime - in recent years vehicle crime in the UK has been steadily falling.

Facts and Figures

Vehicle crime has dropped by 57% since 1995, but there are still over two million vehicle-related thefts each year (Source: Crime in England and Wales 2004/2005)

Spreading the Secure Your Motor message

The Secure Your Motor campaign aims to help you avoid becoming the victim of car crime by alerting you to the danger of opportunistic car thieves. Adverts have run on TV, radio and the internet, with posters at petrol pump nozzles and parking meters.

There's lots of useful information on the website, including the Bike Theft Index 2005 which lists the motorbikes considered most at risk of being stolen.

Keep it Hidden

If a car park attendant, Patroller or Police Community Support Officer sees a car in a public place with anything left on view, the vehicle's owner is sent a letter and leaflet offering advice on how to outsmart the criminal. It's best never to leave anything on view in your car, but if you have to, lock it in the boot where it is out of sight.

Talking to Voluntary and Community Groups

We particularly want to draw attention to the information available on the internet to help groups relay car crime prevention messages in their neighbourhoods.

For more information, see the Crime Reduction website

The Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001

The Act introduced the registration of motor salvage dealers and number plate suppliers, together with the Vehicle Identity Check scheme. These measures will make it harder for thieves to sell on stolen vehicles.

Help us crack car crime

Help to make sure you're not affected by following these simple safety tips:

• Secure Your Motor - the national campaign website is full of ideas on how to improve the safety of your vehicle and reduce the risk of becoming a victim of car crime
• Visit www.parkmark.co.uk to see if there is a police approved car park in your town. Approved car parks display the official Park Mark plaque

With satellite navigation equipment becoming more popular with motorists, it is also becoming more popular with criminals. Where it's portable keep it safe by taking it, together with the support cradle and suction pads, with you when you leave the car.

And remember to wipe away any suction pad marks left on the windscreen or dashboard as thieves will look out for these. Don't leave the equipment in the glove compartment – thieves will usually check there first.

You can also help by following these tips:

• Mark your satellite navigation equipment system with your postcode and house number or your vehicle registration number or another unique number, using special security markers
• Making a note of the make, model and serial number of the equipment and keeping the note somewhere safe - not in the car. Consider recording this information on one of the commercially available asset registers
• Don't leave anything on view in your car. Thieves are opportunists and it only takes them moments to break into your car
• Lock all doors and windows, not forgetting the sunroof, when leaving your car
• Never leave the keys in the ignition when the car is unattended, even while you're paying for petrol

View the new Vehicle Crime Informatation Leaflet 1.28 MB

Help Us to help You by helping Yourself

(Source of above Information: Home Office web site)