This won’t be happy reading for people who drive these makes and models (Picture: Getty)
The most stolen cars in the UK have been revealed – and it’s not good news for Ford drivers.
New figures show the Ford Fiesta was the make and model most likely to be reported stolen since January 2018.
The research by Confused.com found that 10,346 Ford Fiestas were reported stolen to them in that time period, with the Volkswagen Golf in second place and BMW 3 Series in third.
Plus, London was the car theft hotspot of the UK with nearly 30,000 reported thefts since January 2018. Birmingham was in second place with 27,680 thefts reported, and Manchester in third with just over 10,000 reported thefts.
In total there have been more than 250,000 stolen cars reported, and almost one in five motorists say their car has been stolen before – equivalent to more than 7.6million people.
The Ford Fiesta is one of the most popular car models in the UK, which could explain why it’s the most stolen – but the figures show that owning certain cars might put drivers at higher risk of theft.
There have been more than 250,000 reported car thefts since 2018 (Picture: Getty Images)
More cars were stolen from the street outside their owner’s home (28%) than any other method.
Almost a quarter of cars were hot-wired, 22% had their windows smashed, and one in 10 victims of car theft had their home broken into to steal the keys.
Thankfully, 87% of people who reported their car stolen said it was retrieved, with almost two thirds saying the police found it and about 15% saying they found it themselves.
But getting their car back wasn’t the end of their worries, as 87% of people said their car was damaged when it was returned.
On average, drivers had to spend £364 to repair damages and £671 to top up the cost of a new car.
Rhydian Jones from Confused.com said: ‘Having your car stolen is a stress on both your life and your living costs too.
The most stolen cars in the UK
Ford Fiesta – 10,346 reported stolen
Volkswagen Golf – 9,526 reported stolen
BMW 3 Series – 9,148 reported stolen
Ford Focus – 6,664 reported stolen
BMW 1 Series – 6,286 reported stolen
Mercedes-Benz C Class – 5,698 reported stolen
Audi A3 – 5,551 reported stolen
Range Rover Sport – 5,472 reported stolen
Vauxhall Corsa – 4,992 reported stolen
Vauxhall Astra – 4,357 reported stolen
‘And with general car insurance costs at extreme highs, the impact of having your car stolen is proving to be a burden on drivers and the price they pay for their car insurance.
‘That’s why it’s important that drivers do all they can to protect their cars from thieves. And there are many ways to do this.
‘Taking measures to protect your car can help ensure that it doesn’t become a target.
‘And if you’re changing your car, use our car theft probability calculator. This can help you work out how likely thieves in your area are to steal that car model.’
When it comes to the most stolen cars, the make and model can vary by city.
While the Ford Fiesta is the most stolen car in the UK overall, in London it’s the BMW X6 which is stolen most often.
The UK’s car theft hotspots revealed
London (inner) – 29,683 thefts reported – BMW X6 most stolen
Birmingham – 27,680 thefts reported – Ford Fiesta most stolen
Manchester – 10,017 thefts reported – Fiat Punto most stolen
Sheffield – 9,367 thefts reported – Volkswagen Golf most stolen
Romford – 9,321 thefts reported – BMW 3 Series most stolen
Ilford – 5,942 thefts reported – BMW 4 Series most stolen
Dudley – 5,438 thefts reported – Audi A4 most stolen
Coventry – 5,255 thefts reported – BMW 1 Series most stolen
Walsall – 4,757 thefts reported – Audi A4 most stolen
Chelmsford – 4,699 thefts reported – Vauxhall Corsa most stolen
Birmingham’s most stolen car is the Ford Fiesta, but in Manchester the make and model reported stolen most often is the Fiat Punto.
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The figures also show that new technology has started to tip the balance in favour of car owners.
About 14% of drivers say security footage, either their own or from a neighbour, captured their car being stolen, and another 12% used a tracking device to find their car after it had been taken.
Top safety tips to protect your car from thieves include:
Checking your car is locked – it might sound obvious, but this is especially important with more modern cars having keyless locking systems. It’ll also impact your claim if your car is stolen and you’re not sure if you locked it or not
Hiding valuables in your car – don’t leave any valuables like handbags, tech or money visible
Investing in car security – steering wheel and handbrake locks are effective ways to protect your car from thieves. The brightly coloured locks also act as a visual deterrent
Installing a tracking device – although this doesn’t prevent your car from being stolen, it can improve its chances of being recovered
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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