Car theft victims and experts demand action as crimes surge and charges remain rare

From the Newshound archive · first published 14 October 2026.

A BBC investigation into Home Office data has exposed a decade-long collapse in police detection rates for car theft across England and Wales. Reported thefts have risen by almost 50% over ten years, reaching 119,000 last year, while the proportion ending in a charge or summons has crashed from 10% to just 3%. William Church, a vehicle security locksmith in Shrewsbury, said thieves face "just no risk" of being caught, warning: "They don't follow it up."

The West Midlands recorded the highest vehicle theft rate in England and Wales in 2025-26, with only 2.2% of cases leading to a charge or summons.

Dave Whiting, 79, of Solihull watched CCTV showing two men calmly drill and jigsaw into his Lexus RX — his car was spotted on ANPR cameras but never recovered.

Essex victims called the crime "disgusting", with one having their car stolen despite using a signal-blocking key pouch — the county recorded the fourth highest theft rate per head in England and Wales.