2002 Car Crime Figures Fall by up to 40%

Recently released statistics from the British Crime Survey show that vehicle crime has been consistently down since its peak in 1995. Both thefts from vehicles and theft of cars themselves have significantly reduced by as much as 40% in this time. One of the Governments targets for the Criminal Justice System is to further reduce vehicle crime by 25% over a 5-year period between 1999 and 2004. After year 3 recorded vehicle crime has reduced by approximately 9% which although is encouraging, it is still behind the staged year 3 target. Although figures are down, there are still over a million instances of car related crimes every year, mostly thefts involving car parts, radios and valuables. In most cases losses were covered by insurance policies, however not all insured parties made claims. In fact only 38% of victims of all vehicle related theft made a claim on their insurance, although this rises to 69% of victims of theft of a vehicle. David Harlow of one of the UK’s leading online insurance brokers InsureYourMotor.com comments: “Although car crime figures are down insurance premiums and excess charges still remain fairly high. The fact that so few claims in relation to crimes have been made, is an indication that people are willing to take one on the chin to save their no claims bonus or excess fees”. Regional rates for vehicle theft last year were highest in London with 1,472 per 10,000 households, followed by Northwest (1,398), and the West Midlands (1,278). The lowest was the East of England (881), and the Northeast (940).