Has your car, van or motorbike been left untouched for much of the past few months? You could be forgiven for thinking your vehicle would be safer at home than when out driving and parking in public regularly. Yet while road traffic dropped by a staggering 70% in the depths of the UK lockdown, vehicle crime remained a near constant threat throughout.
Surprised? You’re not alone. Almost a third of car and motorbike owners expected vehicle crimes to drop by at least 30%, while one in ten thought figures would be cut in half. It’s a concerning misconception that’s led some to change or even cancel their insurance policies – especially while finances are tight as a result of the pandemic.
The findings come from a study of police force data and owner perceptions by the motorbike insurance specialist Carole Nash. Traffic level data – analysing the number of vehicles on roads at any given time – was collected by transport network analyst Vivacity Labs.
There were some 32,250 vehicle crimes recorded in the UK in March despite less of us being on the road. That’s only 10% lower than in February this year, 14% below an unusually high total in March 2019, and 8% less than March 2018’s figures.
Listed offences include joy riding, theft of or from a vehicle, and vehicle interference. But why has crime remained high, and what do the stats look like for Welsh regions?
Opportunistic thieves
While some parts of society have been forced into hiding, it appears many thieves have not felt so inclined to stay home. Your vehicle could be still be at risk from opportunistic ‘window shoppers’ even while parked on your driveway or on the street a few metres from your home.
Mark Copper, Head of Product at Carole Nash comments: “We have seen not only a consistently high level of claims for total vehicle thefts during lockdown (of cars, caravans and motorcycles) but also vehicle parts.
“These criminals sadly aren’t put off even if you’re just a few feet away, and they may be watching to see if you leave your property for a daily walk too.”
Some police forces reported that local vehicle crimes actually increased in the first month of lockdown. While Lincolnshire tops the list with a 35% rise compared to February, violations in Dyfed-Powys also shot up by 21% month on month.
Other jurisdictions suffering higher vehicle crime levels compared to a month previous include Lancashire (18% increase), Cleveland (16%) and Cambridgeshire (5%).
How vehicle crime stats compare elsewhere in Wales
Beyond Dyfed-Powys, vehicle crime levels in Wales remained relatively consistent both month on month and year on year.
243 vehicle crimes were reported in Gwent in March 2020, down only 2% from February. That figure marks a 31% drop from March 2019, however.
North Wales saw 137 crimes, again down 2% on the previous month but only 10% less than the year before. 591 vehicle offences occurred in South Wales in March meanwhile, a 10% monthly decrease and 4% annual drop.
Mark of Carole Nash adds: “It may be tempting to alter or cancel your car or motorcycle insurance policy if you’re not using it – we appreciate that cost-saving is key for so many people at this difficult time.
“However, we would advise caution. While you may not be actively getting out on the roads, your vehicle is still at risk of theft or damage while parked up on your drive or on the roadside by your home. This new study reveals there are still plenty of opportunistic thieves on the lookout.
“Take care, and ensure you’ve got the cover you need.”
