New figures have revealed a stark picture of vehicle crime in Britain, with three out of every four car thefts going unsolved last year. The data has prompted warnings from politicians and motoring groups that stealing cars has been effectively decriminalised in many parts of the country.
Shocking Scale of Unsolved Vehicle Crime
Information from the House of Commons library shows that a staggering 76% of all car thefts in England and Wales were closed without a suspect being identified in 2024. The performance varies drastically across police force areas, painting a postcode lottery for victims.
The Metropolitan Police, covering London, recorded the worst figures, with a total of 88% of all car theft incidents left unsolved. Several other forces also reported alarmingly high rates of unresolved cases.
Forces with Over 80% Unsolved Car Thefts
The analysis identified a number of police forces where more than eight in ten thefts did not lead to a resolution. These include:
- British Transport Police
- South Yorkshire Police
- City of London Police
- Sussex Police
- Warwickshire Police
Overall, out of the 44 police forces in England and Wales, a massive 35 forces had an unsolved case rate of 60% or higher.
Calls for a National Crackdown on Organised Gangs
The Liberal Democrats have responded to the figures by demanding a new national strategy. The party is calling for a specialist team to be established within the National Crime Agency (NCA) to target organised car crime networks.
This proposed unit would pool intelligence from various sources, including data from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, insurance records, and intelligence from police forces and border control.
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, MP Max Wilkinson, stated: “Time and time again victims of crime are left without the support they need, it’s a disgrace and communities deserve so much better. Enough is enough. That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a car theft crackdown, to finally catch the organised gangs and criminals who for far too long have been getting away with it.”
Government Response and New Laws
In its defence, the Home Office pointed to a 12% fall in overall vehicle crime in the year to June 2025, with a specific 7% reduction in vehicle theft. Officials also highlighted new legislation being introduced to combat the tools used by modern thieves.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Vehicle theft has a devastating impact on individuals, families, businesses, and the wider industry. For too long, not enough has been done to prevent these crimes or to bring those responsible to justice.”
The spokesman confirmed that new laws are being brought in to ban electronic devices used to bypass car security systems. Criminals caught using such technology could face up to five years in prison. The government also claims to be training police officers on theft methods and working with the automotive industry to address vehicle vulnerabilities.
Despite these measures, the sheer volume of unsolved cases has led to significant criticism, with The Telegraph reporting that the figures have stoked fears the crime is being treated with ineffective leniency across the UK.
