Croydon named the UK's car crime capital

• The postcode with the highest volume of vehicle crime is CR0 (Croydon), with an average of five offences every day
• 24 per cent of all crimes in the B40 postcode in Solihull, West Midlands relate to vehicles
• An average of 347 cars are stolen every day across the UK
• Findings revealed in Direct Line’s “Truth about car theft” campaign, in partnership with University of Huddersfield, which builds on original insight from convicted car thieves

New research¹ by Direct Line Motor Insurance reveals the UK postcodes with the highest rates of vehicle crime. The postcode with the highest volume of vehicle crime is CR0 (Croydon) with 6,005 recorded crimes over the past three years, an average of five every day, or 39 for every 1,000 residents. This ranks ahead of NW10 (Brent), N17 (Haringey), E17 (Waltham Forest) and NW2 (Barnet), with the highest-ranking non-London postcode being LE3 (Leicester) in seventh place.

Vehicle crime is a broad definition used by police forces that defines illegal activity such as theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking and interference with a motor vehicle.

Table one: Vehicle crime by postcode, 2019-2021

Source: Direct Line Motor Insurance, 2022

The B40 postcode in Solihull, West Midlands, had the highest proportion of vehicle crime as a percentage of all recorded crime over the past three years.  Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of all crimes in the area related to vehicles.

Regional findings

On a regional level, London dominates the worst areas for vehicle crime, with nearly 10 per cent of all crimes recorded in the capital involving a vehicle. This amounts to more than 321,000 crimes over the past three years, or 293 every single day. The next highest area, the West Midlands, has seen less than half the amount of vehicle crime as London. Meanwhile the safest region for vehicle crime is Northern Ireland, with only 4.6 crimes per 1,000 people.

Table two: Vehicle crime by region, 2019-2021

Source: Direct Line Motor Insurance, 2022

Direct Line has partnered with the University of Huddersfield for its ‘Truth about Car Theft’ campaign, which includes detailed academic research² amongst prolific car thieves to understand the motive, means and opportunities for vehicle crime, to help motorists reduce the risk of falling victim to these criminals. 

One element of this research investigated what vehicle owners could do to reduce vehicle crime. The key element to reducing such crime was making the vehicle more difficult to steal, or making it not appear worth the risk or effort to steal. One convicted car thief said: “I can generally see if a car is open just by looking at it. i.e. are the wing mirrors out? Can I see a red flashing light on in the car? A car that’s open to me stands out like a Christmas tree.”  For criminals the ease and speed of taking a vehicle are key drivers when selecting cars to target.

Professor Rachel Armitage, Professor of Criminology, University of Huddersfield, said: “Our research shows car owners need to be vigilant, but there are steps they can take to help protect their vehicles. Signs warning of the presence of dogs, gravel driveways and wingmirrors being turned in were all repeatedly mentioned as deterrents when conducting the research. Although most cars come with sophisticated security measures, criminals often research how to get round them and share intelligence amongst the offender community. Simple measures, such as keeping keys out of view, could really make a difference and reduce how appealing a car looks to a criminal.”

Lorraine Price, head of motor insurance at Direct Line, commented: “It is troubling to see the scale of vehicle crime across the UK.  These are not isolated incidents; every year thousands of cars are stolen, or damaged as criminals break in to take items left in them.  No matter where you live in the UK, it is important to be vigilant. Simple steps such as ensuring your car is double locked and parked in a well-lit area may help deter a criminal.”  

Looking specifically at car theft, internationally, the UK ranks among the highest in the world³, with the 14^th highest rate of incidents.  With an average of 190 thefts per 100,000 people, it ranks above the likes of France, Iran, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Mexico.  It is significantly higher than the estimated worldwide car-theft rate of 85 per 100,000 residents. The total of 126,516 cars stolen a year means that the UK experiences an average of 347 car thefts a day.

Similarly, to overall vehicle crime, car theft is not distributed evenly throughout the UK, as England and Wales have a higher rate of car theft than the rest of the country, with 203 thefts per 100,000 people compared to 77 in Northern Ireland and 91 in Scotland.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

¹                    Direct Line analysis of UK police force data focusing on all vehicle crime by postcode area, full-year 2019-2021. Data for Greater Manchester Police and Police Scotland not provided by police forces. Postcode crime data presented within larger local authority boundaries.

²                    Armitage, R., Floyd, K., Reeves, C and Roach, J. (2022) Preventing Vehicle Crime. University of Huddersfield

³                    Data from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: Motor vehicle thefts, by country https://dataunodc.un.org/data/crime/Car per cent20theft

For further information please contact:

Chelsey Wheeler
Deputy Head of News and Issues – DLG   

Tel: 01651 832 095

Email: Chelsey.Wheeler@directlinegroup.co.uk

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

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