Recent data from the House of Commons library shows that an alarming 76% of car theft cases in the past year remained unresolved, with the Metropolitan police force having the lowest rate of solving incidents at 88% unsolved.
Various police forces, including the British Transport Police, South Yorkshire, City of London, Sussex, and Warwickshire police, reported over 80% of car theft cases unsolved. Across England and Wales, out of 44 police forces, 35 had a high rate of 60% of cases unsolved.
The Home Office mentioned a 12% decrease in vehicle crime in the year leading to June 2025, with a 7% drop in vehicle theft. New legislation is set to prohibit electronic tools used for breaching a car’s security, imposing up to five years of imprisonment for offenders.
The Liberal Democrats have proposed the establishment of a specialized team, situated at the National Crime Agency, to gather data from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, insurance records, and police and border control intelligence to combat organized car crime networks.
Max Wilkinson MP, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, criticized the lack of support for crime victims and urged the government to address the issue. The party called for a crackdown on car theft to apprehend organized criminal groups that have evaded capture for too long.
A spokesperson from the Home Office emphasized the negative impact of vehicle theft on individuals, families, businesses, and the industry, highlighting efforts by the government and police to prevent such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice through various measures and collaborations.
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