ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Which is the Most Stolen Car in the West Midlands?
The most stolen cars in the West Midlands have been revealed, with a very popular model securing the top spot on the list.
This revelation comes at a time when police chiefs are sounding alarms about the escalating use of advanced tactics by thieves, enabling them to swiftly abscond with modern vehicles “in a matter of seconds”.
Simon Foster, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), emphasised the importance of informing the public about the car makes most frequently targeted by thieves.
He expressed his desire for people to be equipped with this knowledge so that they can make “informed decisions” when buying cars.
Therefore, they can enhance their awareness and ability to safeguard against potential thefts.
The car manufacturer that takes the top spot in the West Midlands is Ford.
In 2023, nearly 3,000 were stolen in the West Midlands.
Models include the Focus, Fiesta and Mondeo, all of which are very popular on UK roads.
In fact, the Fiesta has long been one of Britain’s best-loved cars, with over 1.5 million registered.
Although Ford has maintained its leading position from the previous year as the most frequently stolen make, there has been a decrease in the number of these models stolen, with the figure dropping to 3,748.
On the other hand, there has been a big increase in Toyota, Hyundai and Lexus cars being targeted.
The BBC’S Watchdog section on The One Show on March 20’s episode highlighted several customers who had lost their Toyota and Lexus vehicles to a new wave of thefts.
What was initially a problem in central London has spread across England.
One insurance firm told the BBC it had seen a 513% increase in Lexus thefts since 2021.
In the same time frame, Toyota thefts have risen 103%.
The programme said criminals had cracked a new way of stealing the models in “less than 60 seconds”.
Viewers were told some owners had been offered “protection plates” which are retrofitted to cars to protect them from criminals.
Owners of the cars have been told to contact their dealers to arrange the fitting of the plates.
Although it is unclear which age of vehicles were affected, but Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus RX models were mentioned in the programme.
A spokesperson for Toyota and Lexus said:
“Intelligence showed the area saw a concentration of vehicle crime and the protective plates have always been available to any dealer across the UK and were ordered and dispatched as requested.
“In terms of widespread awareness, we are, of course, bound by GDPR and, as a result, only able to write to customers from whom we have permission to do so.”
Worried owners should contact their local dealer to see if they can benefit from the retrofit solution.
The spokesperson added: “We take the issue of vehicle theft very seriously.
“We are continuously developing technical solutions to make our vehicles more secure, to help reduce the risk of theft.
“An enhanced security hardware system was introduced in October 2021 on the latest models targeted by criminals. Since which, we have seen a significant drop in thefts of those models.
“For older models, we endeavour to create solutions that can offer enhanced protection to our customers.
“Following communication from Toyota and Lexus in the coming weeks, owners should contact their local dealer to arrange free-of-charge fitment.
“Customers can already speak to their local dealer about the fitment of a protective plate to block access to the vehicle’s electronics. This is a nationwide customer care offering.
“Alongside our efforts, we urge authorities to focus on reducing the number of thefts.”
“We would also like to see action taken that leads to the end to the online sale of devices used by criminals to steal cars without using the car keys, as these devices serve no purpose other than a criminal one.”
Next on the list was Mercedes, followed by Land Rover.
The Most Stolen Cars in the West Midlands in 2023
- Ford – 2,980
- Mercedes – 1,123
- Land Rover – 1,119
- BMW – 688
- Toyota – 585
- Vauxhall – 575
- Nissan – 540
- Volkswagen – 508
- Audi – 480
- Peugeot – 374
Police revealed the swift methods employed by thieves to breach onboard car security features, enabling them to make off with vehicles while the owners are asleep at night.
These tactics may include duplicating digital keys or amplifying a car fob signal to trick the vehicle into unlocking its doors and initiating its engine.
PCC Mr Foster said: “Criminals are finding ever more sophisticated ways of getting around car security features and it is something that is deeply concerning.
“Cars are sometimes being stolen in less than a minute, as people sleep in their beds.
“I have asked West Midlands Police to crack down on car crime and go after the organised criminals, who are profiting from the thefts and I am pleased to say they are making progress because we have seen a 12% reduction in vehicle crime year on year.
“But we also need manufacturers to look again at onboard car security features, to ensure they are a top priority and fit for purpose, to prevent organised car crime gangs profiting from vehicle theft.”
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