Vehicle Crime in the UK (2025): What’s Really Happening — And How To Protect Your Car, Van & Site
The quick take
Vehicle crime is still a big headache, even as some numbers ease off. Police recorded 380,100 vehicle offences in the year to March 2024 (down 6% year-on-year). Within that, theft from a vehicle fell 12% to 193,023. Office for National Statistics
By December 2024 the police had logged 364,208 vehicle offences for the previous 12 months (down 7%). Office for National Statistics
Meanwhile, 129,159 vehicles were stolen between Apr 2023–Mar 2024 — around a 15-year high. RAC
Across calendar year 2024, the DVLA recorded 61,343 cars reported stolen; the Ford Fiesta topped the model list. Fleet Newsclick4gap.co.uk
And despite some improvements, only 2.2% of vehicle-theft cases resulted in a charge/summons, while 83.8% closed with no suspect identified (YE Mar 2024). GOV.UK
Where thefts bite the hardest
Fresh analysis of DVLA data put London at the top for total thefts in 2024, with Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield also high on the list. Per-capita hot spots include Barking, Hayes, Birmingham, Thornton Heath and Dagenham. RAC
Most stolen models (2024, DVLA analysis): Ford Fiesta, VW Golf, Ford Focus, BMW 3 Series, Toyota RAV4, Mercedes C-Class, Range Rover Evoque, Nissan Juke, Vauxhall Corsa, Range Rover Sport. Fleet NewsWhat Car?
How thieves are doing it (and what to do about it)
- Keyless/relay attacks. Insurers say 60–70% of stolen cars in the last year were keyless; owners of keyless cars are ~2x more likely to make a theft claim. Use a Faraday pouch, disable passive entry if possible, add steering locks and consider trackers. Which?Fleet News
- OBD reprogramming & cloning. Thieves access the diagnostic port to program a new key. Fit OBD port locks and park in a way that blocks driver-side access (e.g., behind a telescopic bollard or inside a locked yard). (General best practice; aligns with police/insurer guidance.)
- Theft from vehicles (tools, parts). This still accounts for a huge share of offences (see 193k figure above). Keep vans empty overnight, use internal tool safes, alarm sensors and visible deterrents. Office for National Statistics
- Security ratings. If a car is vulnerable to relay attack, Thatcham’s rating is downgraded to “Poor” — look for models with motion-sensor keys or UWB-based fixes. Thatcham Research
Site-level security that actually works
If you manage a car park, depot, retail park or business yard, layering is king:
- Driveway/parking bollards (anti-ram, telescopic or fold-down) to physically block bays and roller doors.
- Galvanised swing gates and height restriction barriers to control access and deter high-value vehicle thefts.
- Perimeter hardening: lockable posts at pinch points, reinforced fences, good lighting and CCTV.
- Admin wins: signage, visitor controls, key management, and asset tracking.
(Yes, we make this easy: UK-made bollards, height-restriction barriers and galvanised swing gates — manufactured in-house for fast lead times and proper heavy-duty spec.)
The numbers that matter (at a glance)
- Vehicle offences (YE Mar 2024): 380,100, –6% YoY; theft from a vehicle 193,023, –12%. Office for National Statistics
- Vehicle offences (YE Dec 2024): 364,208, –7% YoY. Office for National Statistics
- Stolen vehicles (Apr 2023–Mar 2024): 129,159 (15-year high). RAC
- Cars reported stolen (calendar 2024): 61,343; Ford Fiesta most stolen model. click4gap.co.ukFleet News
- Outcome rates (YE Mar 2024): 2.2% charged/summonsed; 83.8% no suspect identified — for vehicle offences. GOV.UK
10 quick FAQs about UK vehicle crime
- What are the main types of vehicle crime?
Theft of a vehicle, theft from a vehicle (tools/parts), and vehicle interference. Office for National Statistics - Is vehicle crime going up or down?
Overall vehicle offences fell 6% (YE Mar 2024) and 7% (YE Dec 2024), but total cars stolen remain high in historic terms. Office for National Statistics+1RAC - How common is keyless theft?
Insurers report 60–70% of recent thefts involve keyless models; keyless-entry cars are about twice as likely to be stolen. Which?Fleet News - Which areas are worst hit?
Major cities top totals (London, Birmingham, Manchester); per-capita hot spots include Barking and Hayes. RAC - Which cars are most targeted?
In 2024 the Ford Fiesta led DVLA’s list, followed by VW Golf and Ford Focus. Fleet News - What’s the charge rate for vehicle theft?
Only ~2.2% of cases ended in a charge/summons in the year to March 2024. GOV.UK - Best quick wins for drivers?
Use a Faraday pouch, add a steering-wheel lock, hide the OBD port, park behind a bollard or gate, and fit a tracker. (General best practice; see insurer/police guidance.) Fleet News - What about vans and tool thefts?
Still a big slice of “theft from a vehicle” — empty vans overnight, add internal locks/safes, park nose-in behind posts/gates. Office for National Statistics - Do physical barriers help?
Yes. Bollards, swing gates and height barriers stop drive-offs, block OBD access and make thefts noisy/time-consuming — which is the point. (Security best practice; layered defence.) - What should businesses install first?
Start with controlled access (gates/height barriers), strategic bollards, lighting, CCTV, and clear processes for keys and contractors.
Ready to harden your site?
Tell us your entrance widths and layout; we’ll spec UK-made galvanised swing gates, bollards and height-restriction barriers that actually stop vehicles — and we can sort installation nationwide.
Sources & Notes
The statistics and insights in this article are drawn from publicly available UK data, including:
Figures are correct to the latest published periods (2023–2025) at the time of writing. Aremco Barriers has summarised this information for awareness and guidance; for full data and updates, please consult the original sources directly.
