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Make sure you take steps to protect your vehicle – especially if you live in London and you drive one of Britain’s most popular cars.
Co-op Insurance has carried out a four-year study based on actual claims and nine out of the Top 10 car theft postcodes are located in London.
Top 20 UK vehicle theft hotspots (by frequency of claims)
| 1. Lambeth |
| 2. Kensington and Chelsea |
| 3. Ealing |
| 4. Southwark |
| 5. Lewisham |
| 6. Wandsworth |
| 7. Greenwich |
| 8. Hounslow |
| 9. Watford |
| 10. Westminster |
| 11. Hammersmith and Fulham |
| 12. Three Rivers |
| 13. Preston |
| 14. Slough |
| 15. Spelthorne |
| 16. Stevenage |
| 17. Barking and Dagenham |
| 18. Havering |
| 19. Peterborough |
| 20. Southampton |
The research also revealed the makes and models of cars most targeted by criminals, with popular family cars (Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa) heading the list.
“Having your car stolen is one of the most distressing experiences a person can endure and sadly, it is still something that blights everyday life, particularly in our cities,” said Paul Evans, head of motor insurance at Co-op Insurance.
“Our claims data shows that car crime rates in London have remained continuously high, but it’s interesting to see that places like Preston and Stockport are also emerging hotspots in the North.”
Top 10 cars with a theft claim reported (as a % of total theft claims)
| 1. Ford Fiesta |
| 2. Ford Focus |
| 3. Vauxhall Corsa |
| 4. Vauxhall Astra |
| 5. Volkswagen Golf |
| 6. Land Rover Evoque |
| 7. Land Rover Discovery |
| 8. Audi A3 |
| 9. Mercedes C Class |
| 10. Audi A4 |
TV consumer champion and former car dealer, Dominic Littlewood, added: “Whether our cars are parked on the driveway or in an urban car park, they are vulnerable to car thieves who are becoming increasingly well organised in targeting the vehicles on their wish list.
“There are a number of really simple steps that car owners can take to make sure their vehicle doesn’t look so appealing – from simply turning your car wheels to face the kerb and investing in some simple deterrents like steering wheel locks.
“And don’t think it won’t happen to you, cheaper makes and models are becoming more attractive than ever to thieves. It’s also important to get the right car insurance in place so if the worst does happen, you’ll get the money to buy another car quickly and conveniently.”
Find out the car crime rates in your area – https://www.coop.co.uk/insurance/hub/park-smart.
