What are the top 5 UK hotspots for car theft?

In late 2023, a Freedom of Information request was sent to 36 forces across the UK, seeking more information on the top car theft hotspots across the UK. While not every police force issued a response (as is often the case with Freedom of Information requests), enough answered to provide a fairly accurate picture of car crime across Britain. Interestingly, London did not have the highest levels of vehicle crime, despite the capital having a notorious reputation for it. It makes for interesting reading if you were considering vehicle security measures such as removable bollards for your own home or business!

The top 5 car theft hotspots

Each location was rated based on how many cars were stolen for every 1000 registered. The list in full includes:

• Cleveland – (12.67 per 1000 registered)
• London Metropolitan – (11.51 per 1000 registered)
• South Yorkshire – (10.67 per 1000 registered)
• Northumbria – (10.31 per 1000 registered)
• Bedfordshire – (6.37 per 1000 registered)

The Ford Fiesta is still one of the most popular cars in the UK, and partially for that reason, it’s also one of the most stolen. Although it’s now technically been discontinued, it’s still widely available and the parts are still available too.

One of the most worrying stats mentioned that just 6.7% of car thefts result in a conviction, according to Home Office data. That means that sadly, the majority of car owners who have their vehicle stolen have slim chances of seeing it again – which makes prevention all the more important.

How to protect your car

Just like burglaries, many car thefts are opportunistic, and cars with the least security tend to be especially vulnerable. For that reason alone, one of the best ways to protect your car is to ensure that there’s a range of measures in place. One of the most effective is to hide it away in a garage, but if that’s not possible, then gates, security lights, and cameras can all play their own major role as deterrents.

And of course, there’s one highly affordable, effective security measure that’s often overlooked: security bollards.

We’ve spoken before about the range of advantages that bollards offer your premises – their relative simplicity, versatility and ease of operation means they’re remain the go-to solution for business owners, landowners and homeowners alike, across the UK.

We’ve got an excellent range of them to choose from right here at Bollard Security, including the D4 Telescopic Bollard, constructed from robust galvanised steel. And of course, if you’re looking for something a little different to suit your requirements – or if you have any questions or need any advice – don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For over 15 years, we’ve been installing and maintaining security solutions across the UK for domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors, and we take pride in providing quality products that give our customers peace of mind. Don’t hesitate to contact us on 01535 509001 for advice and recommendations on the best Telescopic Bollards for your business premises!