Vehicle crime statistics laid bare by RAC
More than a quarter of drivers have been victims of vehicle crime in the last year, according to new research from the RAC.
It found that 26% of motorists have been victims of vehicle theft of vandalism in the last 12 months. The percentage rises to 45% among drivers living in towns and cities, with just 15% of those living in rural areas impacted.
Among urban drivers, 19% of drivers said their vehicles had been deliberately vandalised with scratches and dents, while 13% have had things stolen from their cars.
Meanwhile, 11% of urban drivers have either had their car stolen or parts such as catalytic converters, wheels and steering wheels stolen from it, while nine per cent said they have been victims of vehicle cloning.
Vehicle vandalism
RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams said: “It’s very worrying to see so many drivers have experienced some form of vehicle crime over a 12-month period. Having a vehicle vandalised is both unbelievably annoying and expensive but having one stolen is a horrible violation, incredibly stressful to resolve and inconvenient to cope with, given how important cars are to our daily lives.
“Every criminal incident like this contributes to the average cost of car insurance which has already risen in recent years due to the higher costs of parts and labour, and the increasing complexity of modern vehicles.
“It’s little wonder why the cost of insuring a vehicle was named the second biggest motoring frustration in our annual Report on Motoring research, with 29% of drivers saying it was one of their top concerns.”
Organised crime
Thatcham Research chief executive Jonathan Hewett added:
“Vehicle theft is no longer just opportunistic; it’s increasingly driven by organised criminal gangs using sophisticated methods. Tackling the threat means not only making cars harder to steal, but also disrupting the networks behind high-volume, tech-enabled theft.”
