Greater Manchester in top three for car thefts in the country and it's on the rise

Greater Manchester is providing rich pickings for car thieves. Statistics reveal the region is the third worst county in England and Wales for the crime.

Last year there were 25,495 vehicles stolen - an increase of five per cent on 2020. This works out at nine cars stolen per one thousand households.

The figures are despite concerted efforts by GMP to tackle the issue. In February this year the Manchester Evening News reported that the force's elite Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit recovered 454 stolen vehicles worth over £8million and arrested 637 people for a variety of different offences.

The Unit made a dent in the exploits of an Oldham-based car theft gang at the beginning of the year. They found three high-end stolen vehicles parked up in side streets in Oldham.

It is a typical ruse of thieves to steal expensive vehicles and then leave them "hidden" in a quiet street for several days to see if they are recovered or found by having a tracker device. They then return to move them on - to either a chop shop to be stripped for parts or to a port to shipped abroad.

The TVIU recovered a Range Rover on Skipton Street, a Jaguar on Worsley Street and a Land Rover Discovery on Delamere Street which patrolling officers found unattended and seized. The Range Rover and Jaguar had both been fitted with false number plates in an attempt to hide their true identity.

A study, conducted by A-Plan Insurance, was carried out by assessing Home Office data of vehicle thefts in each police force area and determining the rate according to the number of thefts per household.

The research also analysed data from 2020, to determine whether vehicle thefts have increased or decreased in each force area since last year. London is still the worst place for vehicle theft, but the crime rate there is decreasing. Compared to 2020, car thefts in the capital are down by nine per cent, but still totalled a staggering 100,185. In the West Midlands, the second worst, it has increased by 12 percent. Hampshire is the area where vehicle theft has increased the most, with 22 per cent more cars stolen in 2021 than in 2020.

Dyfed-Powys, in Wales, is the place you are least likely to have your car stolen, with just 623 vehicle thefts in 2021. This means just 1.2 cars were stolen per thousand households. Cumbria and North Yorkshire also have low theft rates with 727 and 1,433 cars stolen respectively in 2021.

GMP has had some success in dismantling groups who carry out widespread thefts of cars. In 2020. A suspected international car stealing operation was smashed by police.

Two organised crime gangs based in Oldham, with associates in Bolton and Bury, are believed to be behind the theft of 70 luxury cars since last October, worth £2.25m. They specialised in stealing Ranger Rovers and Land Rovers - including the popular Evoque - as well as BMWs, Audis, and Volkswagens.

It is thought they have technology which enables them to get into a car without the keys and start and steal it in 30 seconds. During 12-month investigation officers from GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group intercepted cars at Liverpool docks about to be shipped abroad and recovered others already en route to the Middle East and Europe.

Several "chop shops" where high-value stolen cars are stripped and the parts advertised on ebay have also been raided by GMP.

Superintendent Liz Sanderson of GMP’s Wigan District said; “We recognise the impact vehicle theft can have on victims and their families, and I would like to reassure residents that we are actively pursuing offenders.

“We have a dedicated operation focussed on targeting organised vehicle crime, as well as cross border operations with neighbouring forces. We also have an overarching Vehicle Crime strategy looking at all vehicle crime types, including theft from motor vehicles.

“While there are still a large volume of opportunist thieves, there has been significant advances in technology, with keyless entry for example being a way thieves can access vehicles. However we are working closely with partners to increase awareness in relation to the advances in technology.

“We continue to monitor the number of burglaries across Greater Manchester and gather information to adapt our strategy to reduce the number of thefts, but I would also like to encourage residents to do their part in helping keep their possessions safe.

“Keeping vehicles locked at all times, considering where vehicles are parked, keeping keys safe and using a steering wheel lock can all help reduce the risk of becoming a victim. It is essential everyone remains vigilant, both day and night. If we can all be more pro-active in following our advice, thefts should begin to fall.

“We want to urge people to always report anything suspicious and if they have any concerns then please get in touch by calling 101 or via LiveChat on our website. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”

Police Force Area	Household figures (mid-2020) rounded to 100	Vehicle thefts per 1,000 households (year ending Dec 2021)	Total vehicle thefts (year ending Dec 2021)	Percentage change in vehicle thefts (from 2020 to 2021)
London (Metropolitan Police and City of London)	3,543,000	11.1	100,185	-9
West Midlands	1,148,800	10.4	30,608	12
Greater Manchester	1,190,500	9	25,495	5
South Yorkshire	599,500	7.5	10,572	-4
Bedfordshire	267,900	6.9	4,704	-17
West Yorkshire	964,400	6.1	14,358	-4
Hertfordshire	485,400	6	7,180	0
Essex	768,400	5.9	10,896	-6
Warwickshire	247,600	5.4	3,167	-18
Cleveland	245,100	5.2	2,989	1
Thames Valley	964,200	4.9	12,000	-18
Hampshire	839,500	4.9	9,760	22
Nottinghamshire	489,000	4.9	5,714	-12
Avon and Somerset	737,300	4.9	8,407	-4
Leicestershire	438,800	4.8	5,330	-20
Dorset	344,100	4.8	3,718	-4
Merseyside	632,500	4.7	6,726	-1
Cambridgeshire	345,600	4.7	4,028	-8
Northamptonshire	316,900	4.6	3,512	-25
Surrey	474,900	4.6	5,545	-7
Kent	778,300	4.6	8,508	-14
Lancashire	643,600	4.4	6,735	-1
South Wales	582,100	4.2	5,610	-14
Northumbria	648,200	4.1	6,082	-15
Derbyshire	461,800	4	4,229	0
Sussex	750,100	3.8	6,522	-3
Gwent	256,700	3.7	2,242	-9
Staffordshire	488,600	3.6	4,079	-8
Durham	283,900	3.4	2,150	-16
Humberside	407,600	3.3	3,052	-20
West Mercia	556,600	3.1	3,977	5
Gloucestershire	275,200	2.9	1,838	-31
Suffolk	330,800	2.9	2,178	-18
Lincolnshire	332,400	2.8	2,144	-10
Wiltshire	309,700	2.7	1,947	-14
Cheshire	467,300	2.4	2,604	-1
Devon and Cornwall	778,700	1.8	3,210	-7
Norfolk	398,800	1.8	1,613	-15
North Wales	308,300	1.7	1,225	-4
North Yorkshire	360,900	1.7	1,433	-22
Cumbria	227,000	1.5	727	-13
Dyfed-Powys	231,200	1.2	623	-12

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for A-Plan Insurance said: “Theft is one of the main concerns for drivers, especially if you live in an area like London or the West Midlands, where there’s a higher risk of your vehicle being stolen than there is in somewhere like Dyfed-Powys and Cumbria. It’s interesting to see that some of the places with the highest vehicle crime rates are improving, though, and drivers can rest easier by making sure they have adequate insurance cover for their vehicles to protect them from theft and other risks."