Vehicle crime is perhaps a lesser-known form of crime compared to burglary or petty theft, but it’s no less devastating to individuals and communities across the UK. Whether it’s your vehicle being stolen and taken for a joy ride, your windows shattered and valuables taken from within, or petty vandalism like punctured tires or scratched paintwork, vehicle offences are inconvenient at best and could prove utterly debilitating at their worst.
Criminals that target your vehicle not only stop you from taking everyday trips for shopping or work, but can also bring your business to a crashing halt, or prevent critical travel in times of emergency. However, that’s just scratching the surface of how vehicle crime can affect families and businesses. Replacing vehicle parts or even the entire thing is an expensive undertaking, and there’s no guarantee your insurance will even come through. Then there’s the mental health impact, with victims knowing further crimes could be lurking just around the corner.
Clearly, vehicle crime is something that needs to be avoided as much as possible, and being aware of the threats in your area will go a long way in reducing your risk. Knowing where your area stands compared to others, and what that might mean for vehicle owners, means you can take preventative measures to mitigate the threat. Possible solutions might take the form of renting out a garage, installing a driveway light or CCTV, improving your vehicle security, or organising a more vigilant response from your neighbourhood watch. Either way, the first step is always to recognise the threat.
Therefore, in Churchill’s latest comprehensive study, we’ll assess the worst spots for vehicle crime in England & Wales. We’ll breakdown the general overview across all regions, before diving into each region in detail to outline the worst locations for vehicle crime. Then, we’ll examine some of the emerging trends across the country – both rising and falling – to see which areas might best be avoided in the future.
With a total count of 380,209 vehicle offences across England and Wales in the last year, which works out to 6.2 vehicle crimes per 1000 citizens, vehicle crime remains a problematic issue for many communities. That figure comes in just under other common crimes such as shoplifting, criminal damage, and public order offences, while vehicle offences remain starkly more frequent than both residential and non-residential burglaries.
As shown in the pie chart, the distribution of vehicle crimes in England and Wales is fairly lopsided, with over a quarter (27.5%) of offences being reported in London alone. The next major culprits were the West Midlands (12.7%) and the South East (12.5%), both of which being responsible for over 1 in 8 vehicle crimes, while Wales (3%), the North East (4.2%), and the East Midlands (5.9%) all enjoyed far lower shares.
Much of this has to do with the prevalence of large urban centres such as London and Birmingham, where a stolen car could easily become lost in a sea of heavy traffic. Alternatively, more rural communities often have a lesser sense of anonymity, which could explain the lower vehicle crime figures, in addition to reduced population figures. Either way, it seems clear that the urban areas correlate more strongly with higher vehicle crime figures.
Many police forces in the country reported a decline in vehicle crime over the previous year, with 30 police forces reporting reductions ranging from -1% to -19%. However, there were also some substantial hikes in vehicle crime in Gloucestershire (33%), Gwent (32%), County Durham (25%), North Yorkshire (17%), Essex (5%), Cleveland (3%), Leicestershire (1%), Avon and Somerset (1%), and Northamptonshire (1%). Three police forces – West Yorkshire, Surrey, and Lancashire, reported no change in vehicle crime across the past year.
Having presented a general overview, we’ll now dive into the various regions in England and Wales. For each region, we’ll outline the overall vehicle crime rate across the area, and reveal the 3 worst localities for vehicle crime.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 19.4 Offences Per 1000 People
Most commonly associated with the affluence and wealth of the city’s elite, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea suffers from a startling high frequency of crime due to the area’s prestige. With over 3000 individual counts of vehicle crime last year, the borough has seen a sharp 10% rise from previous years.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 17.1 Offences Per 1000 People
Home to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and much of the animated West End, the City Of Westminster proves itself a bustling hub of activity year on year. With this frantic activity also comes increased vehicle crime, with totals reaching 4,336 offences in the last year. While that may be of concern to residents, a 1% decline from previous years could offer some hope on the horizon.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 15.9 Offences Per 1000 People
With 3 professional football teams all enclosed within its borders, Hammersmith and Fulham has long built an impressive reputation for its sports scene, drawing visitors from all over. This no doubt contributes to the increased frequency of vehicle crime, with 2,945 instances in total, a 9% decrease from preceding years.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 13 Offences Per 1000 People
Resting on the outskirts of the West Midland’s largest city, Solihull is sandwiched between Birmingham and the green belt that lies beyond. While the rural area might be home to training grounds for the British Equestrian team, vehicles have fared somewhat worse, with 2,697 counts of vehicle crime. This number is largely unchanged from previous years, with a 1% decrease doing little to counteract the high figures.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 13 Offences Per 1000 People
As one of the most renowned cities in the West Midlands, Coventry has an illustrious history, but it’s the city’s modern trappings that bring in the crowds. That inevitably contributes to the area’s poor performance when it comes to vehicle crime, with a whopping 4,755 individual offences, despite a 10% decrease in recent years.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 12.1 Offences Per 1000 People
With a plethora of attractions that range from the Bullring shopping centre to the upper tiers of English football, the city of Birmingham undoubtedly has its draws for those interested. Such foot traffic will only worsen vehicle crime in the city, however, with an enormous 13,714 offences every year. The recent 13% decline has done little to soften the many thousands of vehicle crimes taking place every year.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 11.2 Offences Per 1000 People
A key hub for industry, sport, and retail across the Yorkshire region, Bradford’s indisputable popularity is perhaps offset by some of the city’s troubles with crime, vehicle offences being among them. With over 3,900 counts of vehicle crime in the surrounding area, and a minor decrease of 1% from the last year, it seems clear this type of crime will continue to play havoc with Bradford residents.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 9.8 Offences Per 1000 People
One of Yorkshire’s largest cities, and a major centre for manufacturing and industry across the county, Doncaster is no stranger to crime and criminality. That’s reflected in part by the city’s vehicle crime figures, with 3,029 offences being recorded in the last year. Even so, a 11% decrease from previous years offers some more promising news for local residents.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 9.1 Offences Per 1000 People
One of the great northern powerhouses, Leeds has a strong track record in artistic, cultural, industrial, and commercial contributions that far outpace many of its peers. Unfortunately, crime in the area has followed suit, with counts of vehicle crime reaching 7,211 offences every year, down by a measly 1% from previous periods.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 11.1 Offences Per 1000 People
Resting on the banks of the River Tees, Middlesbrough boasts a well-renowned industrial heritage, with ironworks, coal, and shipbuilding all part of that pedigree. Unfortunately, as these industries have faltered, so too has crime in the area, with vehicle incidents hovering at around 1,561 offences, a moderate decline of 3% compared to previous years.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 10 Offences Per 1000 People
Perched on the south side of the River Tyne, Gateshead is Newcastle’s smaller cousin, looming opposite and sharing multiple bridges with the larger metropolis. Despite the town suffering from 1,195 counts of vehicle crime a year, Gateshead has seen a recent decline of 22%, offering hope that further falls could lead to improvements in crime for the area.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 9.5 Offences Per 1000 People
One of the major settlements in County Durham, Darlington has earned acclaim for establishing the world’s very first steam locomotive passenger train in the form of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Ironically, vehicle crime is now soaring in the town, reaching a count of 884 incidents, an utterly egregious 82% rise from the previous year.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 13.8 Offences Per 1000 People
Often cited as one of the success stories of the Metropolitan Green Belt, Brentwood plays host to a multitude of country parks, golf courses, King George’s Playing Fields, and even a ski/snowboarding centre. Despite the more rural setting, vehicle crime remains a taxing problem for the area, with 1,054 offences last year and a 15% rise from previous periods. This marks Brentwood as the very worst location for vehicle crime outside of London.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 13 Offences Per 1000 People
The town of Harlow blends greenery and natural beauty with cutting-edge modernity, standing as one of the key hubs in the British sculpture scene with over 100 individual statues. Beyond that, vehicle crime in the town has seen some troublesome increases recently, with a 36% rise in offences amounting to a worrying 1,219 incidents in total.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 12.5 Offences Per 1000 People
The district of Thurrock rests to the east of London, running alongside the northern bank of the River Thames. As such, the Tilbury Docks are the primary port in the area that serves the capital. Naturally, with such critical supply lines passing through the area, vehicle crime remains a pressing problem, with 2,217 offences last year, just an 11% decline from the previous year’s figures.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 11.9 Offences Per 1000 People
Occasionally referred to as the ‘capital of the North’, it’s no wonder why Manchester sees the enduring popularity that the city now enjoys. With that popularity also comes infamy, however, and vehicle crime certainly contributes to that, with over 6,500 offences reported in the last year, representing a slight fall from previous year’s figures by 14%.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 8.9 Offences Per 1000 People
For many, Blackpool inspires nostalgic memories of fish and chips, arcades, and glittering illuminations – although over recent years, the façade has begun to fade. The tourist town now suffers from a startling rate of vehicle crime, with approximately 1,249 counts every year, down just 8% from preceding years.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 7.2 Offences Per 1000 People
One of the North West’s up and comers, Oldham has quickly emerged, growing drastically in both popularity and infamy. As that expansion evolves, so too does the crime that unfortunately has become a staple of urban centres. Vehicle crime has carved out a sizeable share of this, with 1,760 individual counts, representing a 21% decrease from the previous year.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 13 Offences Per 1000 People
As a major player in both the local and national economy, Slough is one of the more heavily industrialised towns in the South East. Despite this, the area’s appeal is limited, reflected in part by a problematic crime rate, reaching 1,865 instances of vehicle crime this year. That’s a 5% decrease from the previous year, offering some hope that these figures could be driven down further.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 10.2 Offences Per 1000 People
One of the new towns of the South, the city of Milton Keynes was constructed to ease some of the housing strain across London. This metropolis was uniquely designed with a modern grid method in mind, helping ease congestion and traffic across the area. Unfortunately, this has had little impact on vehicle crime, which sits at over 2,100 offences, a moderate decline of 22% from previous years.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 9.3 Offences Per 1000 People
Twin towns on the London commuter belt, Epsom & Ewell enjoy a certain close proximity to the city centre, while also boasting a range of suburban parks and commons, including the Epsom Downs Racecourse. Regardless, vehicle crime in the area has seen a sharp increase in recent months, totalling 756 incidents, a dramatic 25% rise since the last year.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 7.5 Offences Per 1000 People
One of the major stops on the long stretch of motorway from London to Birmingham, Northampton has a lengthy history that spans from the Bronze Age to the Romans to being a key hub for the Roundheads during the English Civil War. Today, the city suffers from a heightened frequency of vehicle crime, with a slight increase of 1% amounting to 1,830 total offences across the recent calendar year.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 7.4 Offences Per 1000 People
A developing area of Northamptonshire, Wellingborough is nestled on the northern banks of the River Nene, enjoying a certain popularity due to its idyllic locale and the proximity of major roads. As for vehicle crime, however, the town is less appealing, with approximately 407 vehicle offences per year. The fact that these figures have increased by 19% since last year will undoubtedly give local residents cause for concern.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 6.7 Offences Per 1000 People
As a major settlement and the namesake of its home county Nottinghamshire, the city itself has been cemented into legend as the home of Robin Hood and his merry men. In perhaps a darker and more modern twist to the story, however, vehicle crime has seen a recent uptick in the area, with 1,950 offences last year resulting from a mild 1% rise in figures.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 10.7 Offences Per 1000 People
As the South West’s most populous built-up area, Bristol stands as a veritable titan of industry and culture in the region. Offering an expansive dockside industry and a picturesque city filled with greenery and flowing water, Bristol’s appeal is undeniable, but is perhaps overshadowed by high levels of vehicle crime. With over 5000 offences in the metropolis, down by a minor 3% from previous years, residents are far from in the clear yet.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 9.2 Offences Per 1000 People
The district of Torbay is largely centred around the resort town of Torquay on the coastline, which boasts an excellent array of tourist attractions including beaches, coves, caverns, and calm water marinas. The area’s popularity as a seaside resort doubtless contributes to the increasing vehicle crime figures, with 479 incidents recorded across the district, constituting a worrying 5% rise from the preceding year.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 6.7 Offences Per 1000 People
Home to many of the UK’s most renowned festivals and horse racing events, the infamous spa town of Cheltenham plays host to a multitude of interests, drawing crowds in from across the country. Is it perhaps this that serves as the main driving factor (pun not intended) behind vehicle crime in the area, with 776 total counts reported in the last year, a marked rise of 28% from previous reporting.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 9.4 Offences Per 1000 People
The Welsh capital, and a thriving metropolis in its own right, there’s little else to be said about the appeal of Cardiff that hasn’t already been spoken on. With indisputable prestige in the realm of culture, sport, and art to name a few, Cardiff is sure to remain a world class city. The city does face stark trouble with vehicle crime, however, totalling 3,384 individual counts. With only a 5% decrease in recent years, these high figures seem set to continue.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 7.4 Offences Per 1000 People
Synonymous with the everlasting sense of history and booming industry that characterises Wales, Newport is one of the largest cities in the constituent country. Unfortunately, the city has become popular with the wrong kinds of crowds, which has led to an increase in vehicle crime, amounting to 1,179 offences in total, a shocking 48% rise from the figures last year.
Vehicle Crime Rate Of 5.6 Offences Per 1000 People
Moving into the Welsh mountains, the county of Blaenau Gwent encompasses several key settlements and some rather picturesque landforms, including rivers, sweeping valleys, and steep slopes. What may be less appealing is the prevalence of vehicle crime, however, with 388 incidents reported to police in the past year, up by 3% from previous periods.
On the whole, vehicle crime across England and Wales is on the downturn, with a 6% decline nationally. Most regions and localities around the country have seen reductions in vehicle offences, and while these declines have generally been slight, they still represent a promising first step in reducing the effects of vehicle crime in many communities.
Among the localities with the sharpest downward trends are Stevenage (-42%), King’s Lynn & West Norfolk (-38%), Mansfield (-37%), North Norfolk (-37%), Fareham (-37%), Worthing (-36%), Tandridge (-35%), Winchester (-35%), and Folkestone & Hythe (-35%), each of which have seen sharp downturns in vehicle crime. Most other localities have seen smaller reductions, ranging from -1% to -30%.
As for localities with rising numbers of vehicle crime, there are far fewer examples, but such increases tend to be much more dramatic. Areas with sharp hikes in vehicle crime include Stroud (112%), Darlington (82%), Rochford (77%), Caerphilly (62%), Allerdale (60%) Waveney (54%), Newport (48%), Mole Valley (45%), Horsham (41%), and Oadby & Wigston (41%). Residents in these areas would certainly not be blamed for feeling concerned about such substantial increases in vehicle crime.
To prevent vehicle offences in and around your business, the assistance of a professional security company like Churchill Support Services may be required. Electronic solutions, CCTV surveillance, and mobile patrols are all great solutions to help safeguard your vehicles, giving you a strong deterrent and blanket protection. For more information about how we can secure your vehicles, reach out to our professional team today.
Churchill aspire to be fully transparent and open with our research processes, ensuring that readers and the public can trust in the validity of our information. As such, our data is retrieved from open-source police records, in tandem with trusted sources such as the Office for National Statistics (ONS). These figures allow us to narrow down vehicle offences to specific regions, police forces, and local Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs), allowing us to calculate crime rates by population and giving us greater insight into which areas are suffering the most from crime.
In this study, we examined crime data from a full calendar year starting in March 2023 and ending in March 2024. We looked at data across the full expanse of England & Wales, but not Scotland or Northern Ireland. For every article, we present the public with the latest available data for the most recent and accurate impression of crime in the country, and we’ll continually update all our articles with the newest figures to help our readers stay ahead of the curve. For more studies, particularly surrounding different regions and types of crime, see our news and insights section here.
