CAR thefts are up nearly a fifth in West Mercia, according to the latest police recorded crime figures.

The rise in cars with keyless entry is being blamed on the rise, with 1,299 vehicles stolen between April 2017 and March 2018, Home Office data reveals.

That is an increase of 19 per cent on the previous year, with the figures meaning one of every 1,000 residents in the force area had their vehicle stolen during the period.

The figures are reflective of the national picture, with car thefts up in England and Wales by 15 per cent since 2016-17, and 40 per cent over the last five years.

Police and motoring campaigners believe the rise is due to a rise in keyless car thefts.

A spokesman from the Association of British Insurers said criminals are exploiting the vulnerabilities of the entry system by using pairs of radio transmitters to capture the signal from the vehicle's fob, among other methods.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the society of motor manufacturers and traders, said: "Manufacturers are investing billions in ever more sophisticated security features and software updates on an ongoing basis.

"However, we continue to call for action to stop the open sale of equipment which helps criminals steal cars - equipment which has no legal purpose - and have written to the Home Secretary seeking a meeting to agree how this can be addressed."

In West Mercia there were 78 cases of aggravated robbery - for driving a stolen vehicle dangerously on the road or causing an accident.

Police also recorded 3,844 incidents related to thefts from vehicles, either of personal belongings, radios or other items - an increase of 2.7 per cent from the previous year.

Superintendent Tom Harding said: “For many years we have seen significant reductions in this crime type which includes cars, agricultural and commercial vehicles. As vehicles have become better designed criminals have resorted to more sophisticated methods to steal them.”


West Mercia Police Crime Commissioner John Campion said “I am reassured by the extensive work at a local and national level to tackle vehicle crime including the links
to more organised activity.”