West Midlands sees highest car theft rate in the UK per capita. London has more total thefts, theft rate is lower.
WhatCar analyzed DVLA data and found 7,694 vehicle thefts last year. That is approximately 2.64 thefts per 1,000 people in the region. London had 14,106 total offenses, but their rate was lower, at 1.58 per 1,000. West Midlands residents are therefore more likely to have a car stolen.
South Yorkshire, Essex, and Bristol round out the top five with rates of 1.41, 1.38, and 1.09. Stolen cars across the nation include expensive models like the Ferrari Purosangue, which costs £375,000, and the Lamborghini Huracan, at £270,000.
Police are working to combat car crime in the area, and chiefs have been taking action for a couple of years. The force recently said car crime is decreasing. Over 200 stolen vehicles were recovered recently in a crackdown worth £1.8 million in total.
Vehicle thefts in the area rose 35%, from 11,990 to 16,232 between 2021 and 2023. However, police stated that new data shows offenses have dropped by 10% over the last 12 months.
Simon Foster, the Police and Crime Commissioner, said rising car theft worries him. He said he is committed to community protection. Foster added that the recent seizures demonstrate the hard work of officers and believes this focus will make a difference on this issue.
Superintendent Gareth Mason, who heads West Midlands Police’s Roads Policing Unit, also commented. Mason said investment is showing positive results, and they want to continue reducing vehicle crime.