The Hidden Cost of Vehicle Theft: Did Complacency Leave the UK Exposed to Organised Crime?
You can lead a force to water but ….
In the mid-1990s, Britain was in the grip of a vehicle theft epidemic. Over half a million cars were being reported* stolen every year, with thieves falling into three broad categories: joyriders, professional criminals, and fraudsters staging thefts for insurance payouts. The government’s response came in 1998 with the launch of the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT), tasked with achieving an ambitious 30% reduction in vehicle-related crime.
At first glance, the mission seemed a success. By the late 1990s, vehicle taking** reports were plummeting, a trend largely credited to the rising use of electronic security measures by manufacturers. Within a decade, reports of unauthorised taking of vehicles had halved. By 2014, they had dropped by almost 90%.
But behind the impressive statistics lies troubling questions:
- Did the government truly tackle vehicle theft** – or just take credit for a problem the car industry solved?
- Was there ever an intention to address vehicle theft?
Improved Security, Diminished Oversight
By focusing on ‘temporary takings’ – joyrides or casual removal – the VCRAT appeared to reap the benefits of better car security without addressing deeper, systemic issues. Improved immobilisers and alarm systems drastically reduced joyriding, leading to fewer police reports and victims. Yet professional criminals, those who steal vehicles for profit or export, adapt quickly.
As vehicle thefts dropped, so did law enforcement’s attention. Stolen Vehicle Squads (SVS) were quietly disbanded, operations scaled back, and fewer officers were tasked with investigating vehicle theft as a serious crime.
The consequences of this shift are stark. In the 1970’s, nearly 90% of stolen cars were recovered. By the 1990’s, that figure had fallen to 66%. Recently, a constabulary’s figures indicated a recovery rate as low as 7%. Many vehicles are now found stripped for parts yet are marked as ‘recovered’. They remain total losses.
Organised Crime on the Rise
With enforcement waning, organised crime groups could operate with less risk. In the West Midlands, vehicle taking nearly tripled between 2015 and 2019. A new Vehicle Crimes Taskforce (VCT), was formed in response. To meet every 6 months, its initial January 2019 gathering was also its last.
Nationally, vehicle taking allegations rose by 85% between 2013/14 and 2022/23, a figure that includes ‘temporary takings’ and thefts. The distinction between the two crimes, however, has been blurred in official records, making it harder to track professional theft and its links to organised crime.
Currently, it is believed most vehicle theft offences are committed by organised crime groups. Possibly.
But up against criminals perceived to be coordinated professionals, it appears constabulary staff readily accept the suggestion of sophisticated removal. Not a priority, ‘keyless taking’ can assist a speedy ‘crime & close’. However, such allegations provide opportunities for investigation yet to be understood and/or engaged by many.
Insurance Fraud: A Missed Opportunity
Back in the 1990s, an estimated 8% of vehicle thefts were linked to insurance fraud. By 2000, that number was evidenced as closer to 30%. Investigating these claims could helped law enforcement meet reduction targets while unmasking fraudulent reports. However, many constabularies seem to have stopped tracking (or considering?) false reports altogether, with “no-crimed” vehicle-taking allegations accounting for just 0.3% of cases in the same constabulary that, 25 years ago, identified a 30% occurrence.
A Crisis Ignored
In mid-2024, the government launched the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP) to tackle the growing crisis. Six months later, it has yet to meet. Its mandate appears to recycle the abandoned goals of the VCT of five years prior i.e. the issues & actions identified in 1999 have remained. Why?
What began as a victory over joyriders appears to have lulled many into a false sense of security and turned into a bonanza for professional thieves.
Possibly the philanthropic submission to the VCT in 1999 titled ‘U.K. Vehicle Theft Complacency’ will also be reviewed, assuming it can be located. Enquiries suggest this was ‘filed on division’ i.e. binned!
It remains troubling to have ‘organised’ and ‘professional’ attributed to vehicle criminals only. More so when there is much that can be achieved with relative ease.
But you can take a force to water ….
Glass half full, here is to hoping I am not writing a similar ‘article’ in 5 years time.
Best wishes for 2025
* ’Reported’ stolen – not necessarily ‘actually’ stolen
** ‘Taking’ – not to be confused with ‘theft’; an intention to permanently deprive.