West Midlands Police Reveal Most Stolen Car Brands

Vehicle Theft

The Police and Crime Commissioner for the region, David Jamieson, published the first instalment of stolen car data and has promised to provide an update every 6 months, to name and shame poor performing manufacturers and better inform buyers.

The West Midlands was highlighted as the area that posed the greatest threat of vehicle theft following data collected by the Office of National Statistics that was reported by Which? earlier in the year.

A major area for concern is vehicles that feature keyless entry as thieves take advantage of security loopholes within this technology. The PCC has been leading a national initiative to close these loopholes and has met with major vehicle manufacturers including; Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan.

The first set of PCC data identifies Fords as the most popularly stolen car. The number of those stolen has risen from 489 in 2015 to 2,438 in 2018, a five-fold increase.

Most Stolen Cars In West Midlands

The Rise And Risk Of Keyless Technology

Keyless technology has become more prevalent in recent years, making it convenient for motorists, but also those looking to steal them.

Significant increases weren’t only seen with Fords. Audi and BMW also experienced three-fold rises in vehicle thefts between the same period.

Which? recently reported that Jaguar Land Rover’s Discovery, Range Rover and i-Pace were the only models to be completely secure out of 237 models tested. This testing involved attempts to ‘trick’ the car into thinking the vehicle’s key was in closer proximity to the vehicle than it was, using the relay attack technique. This technique enables thieves to gain access to the vehicle and steal its contents and / or start the engine.

A spokesman for Ford assured potential buyers by confirming that new, more secure, technology will be introduced across their most popular models, with no significant increase in cost. This technology featuring a ‘sleep mode’ will be available on new Fiesta key fobs from this month and in May for the Focus.

However, if you own a Ford or any other manufacturer featured within the West Midlands report there are some steps you can take to protect your vehicle from theft.

Seven Steps To Protect Your Vehicle From Theft

If you who own a vehicle prone to the relay attack you can still do a few simple things that will help you rest easy.

Some of these steps may seem clear as day and almost too obvious but could make all the difference!

1)      Double check your doors are actually locked. Thieves may be trying to block the signal from your remote.

2)      Ensure valuables are never left in plain sight, even if you’re just popping into a shop.

3)      Invest in a Faraday cage. Place your key fob inside and the metal cage can block the signal produced by your key – AutoExpress has recommended the best one to buy here.

4)      Always keep your key out of sight and as far away from your front door as possible.

5)      Invest in a steering lock. It may be big and cumbersome but will offer another level of security. Even a cheap lock will act as a deterrent. If you aim for one accredited by the security initiative Secured By Design, this will present a much tougher challenge to would-be thieves. These cost around £120 and for more information click here.

6)      Think about where you leave your car. Areas with low / no lighting and no CCTV are more prone to thefts.

7)      Get in touch with the manufacturer of your car and find out if there are any extra security steps that are available to offer additional protection to your model.

---

We are one of the UK’s largest and leading used car parts suppliers with over 90 years’ experience. We supply parts for almost any make or model with BIG savings versus buying new! Fast delivery is available UK and worldwide. Take a look at our online store and see what we have available in stock now.