Heading out to work, the school run, or to do the weekly shop and finding your car has disappeared is stressful at best. Many victims of car theft experience feelings of vulnerability alongside the massive upheaval of having their vehicle, and potentially livelihood, put at risk, and needing to handle all the rigours of police reports, crime numbers and insurance claims.
Unfortunately, as you may have guessed, it's unlikely you’ll ever see your car and any personal belongings you’d left inside again. About half of all stolen vehicles are never returned, and some drivers, including those with vans and motorbikes, have a far lower chance of getting their vehicles back, with recovery rates falling to as low as 20%.
Eydens Auto Locksmiths, the experts in vehicle key replacements and advanced automotive security tech, have shared valuable guidance to help drivers prevent theft and ensure their vehicles, whether work vans or family cars, remain secure.
Data and Stats About the Potential Recovery of a Stolen Vehicle in the UK
Car crime rates never make for pleasant reading, and we’ve seen ever-higher upticks in thefts and break-ins in recent years.
That’s partly because keyless entry fobs, while convenient, make it much easier for criminals to clone keys or intercept unlock and engine start signals. That equally means that more expensive vehicles, and those that are simpler to ‘ring’ or disguise as legitimate, are being targeted in greater volumes, with keyless vehicles twice as likely to be stolen.
As of last year, about 924 Range Rovers in every 100,000 were subject to thefts, with Mercedes, Ford, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Fiat and Volkswagen cars all within the eight most commonly stolen marques.
It’s well known that vehicle crime rates tend to be the highest in densely populated cities and commuter belt areas, with instances of vehicle crime hitting 15 or more reports per 1,000 residents in places like Haringey, Enfield, Westminster and Hammersmith – although it's never wise to assume car theft won't affect you if you live in a smaller town.
We’re based in the West Midlands and are keenly aware that this is the region with the greatest number of vehicle crime offences per 1,000 people, which means those pockets in London where thefts are highest are more localised, and it’s always worth being proactive about protecting your vehicle.
Our auto locksmiths and security specialists also continue to emphasise the huge importance of vehicle security for van drivers. Projections show that as many as 20,000 vans will be stolen every 12 months by 2030, costing tradespeople and small business owners an average of £2,500 in lost tools and equipment.
Reasons Why Thousands of Cars and Vans Are Stolen and Never Recovered
Although having your car or van stolen can be incredibly upsetting, the reality is that non-violent crime isn't always regarded as a priority. With depleted police force capacities to investigate vehicular thefts, you might find you're presented with a crime number and little further support.
The tens of thousands of thefts and break-ins that occur every year continue to increase, which means emergency services are less able to respond to each individual incident. In other areas, they may recognise that the prospects of tracing, finding, and returning a vehicle are so low that the resources needed simply cannot be allocated.
It’s also common for stolen cars to be broken down for parts or shipped overseas for resale within hours or days, which means even the most diligent investigation wouldn't be successful.
More modern techniques, such as VIN cloning, enable stolen cars to be easily disguised as legitimate vehicles and sold to unsuspecting buyers who are unaware they've purchased a stolen vehicle, and potentially never will be.
Other crimes, such as stealing cars for joyriding or for use during planned criminal activities, mean cars are generally dumped or burned. In such cases, the police might recover the vehicle, but this won't provide any relief to the original owner.
Advice on Protecting Your Vehicle From Theft
Whenever we receive a callout request from a customer who’s been shaken by crime, had their keys stolen or cloned, or who’s had to buy a replacement vehicle due to the loss of their previous one, we always talk about prevention, because there are simple, cost-effective ways to massively reduce their risks of further theft.
The best solutions might depend on the value, model, and age of your car. Still, we can recommend multiple options, from GPS trackers to advanced immobilisers, which either make your vehicle very difficult to steal or allow it to be continually tracked in any location.
A GPS tracker, such as the S7 or S5+ Immobiliser models we install, is insurance-approved and can help reduce your premiums while ensuring your vehicle cannot be stolen or can be tracked at any moment through a digital app.
These systems utilise security cards and response centre monitoring with the option to include an immobiliser, which prevents the vehicle from being moved unless you're present and have your driver's card, which unlocks the next-gen immobiliser.
Comparing the Costs of Vehicle Theft vs Proactive Security
In contrast to the costs associated with vehicle theft, insurance claims, higher future premiums, and excesses, as well as lost work, income, stress, and upheaval, an immobiliser or tracker is a valuable investment.
As we’ve seen, the average van owner loses £2,500 in tool replacement costs alone, while car owners need to account for lost belongings, no-claims bonuses, the expense of taxis or a hire car, and even recovery costs where they’re expected to pay for tow trucks and storage costs if they are fortunate enough for their vehicle to be recovered.
If you’re interested in learning more about pre-emptive vehicle security, you can enter your registration and the services you’d like pricing for via the Eydens Auto Locksmiths website, and we’ll be pleased to send you a zero-obligation quote so you can make an informed decision about the best, and most affordable, ways to keep yourself and your vehicle safe.
Read more about Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security - Experienced Vehicle Security Firm, Eydens, Advises Commercial Fleet Owners of Easy Ways to Monitor Running Costs
About Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security
Eydens Auto Locksmiths have over 20 years of experience and are members of both the MLA and the ALA, providing auto lock and key services to motorists in Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Kenilworth, Leamington, Stratford upon Avon and Warwick.
Published by: Steve OBrien