Consultants have issued a stark warning that the 300,000 new "25" plate automobiles anticipated to hit the roads this March shall be prime targets for thieves.
A former police interceptor is asking on drivers to keep away from changing into one of many greater than 130,000 victims of automobile theft recorded yearly.
March historically sees the best variety of new automobile gross sales as contemporary registration plates enter the market.
Final 12 months, 317,786 new automobiles had been offered in March 2024, with gross sales projected to exceed this determine in 2025.
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Figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics reveal that an estimated 130,270 automobiles had been stolen in England and Wales alone throughout 2023.
Much more regarding is the declining cost charge for car thefts throughout the UK. Knowledge obtained by Nextbase by means of Freedom of Data requests reveals a gentle lower in profitable prosecutions.
The cost charge fell from 2.8 per cent in July 2022 to simply 1.43 per cent by June 2023.
This implies fewer than two in each 100 automobile thefts resulted in somebody being charged with the crime.
The statistics paint a worrying image for house owners of latest automobiles, who could discover themselves notably weak.
Nextbase's analysis signifies that motorists are taking uncommon steps to guard their new purchases.
Round 11 per cent of automobile house owners admit to intentionally leaving garbage of their automobiles to make them much less interesting to thieves. An additional 10 per cent confess to retaining their automobiles soiled as a deterrent technique.
With new "25" plate automobiles representing vital investments for his or her house owners, many are searching for methods to cut back their attraction to criminals.
Pearson, who now serves as Nextbase Police Advisor, has mapped out six important steps to minimise the chance of automobile theft.
He mentioned: "You don't must make your automobile the toughest automobile to steal on this planet – simply the toughest one to steal in your road.
"If there’s a neater goal round they’re much extra prone to strive their luck with that car as a substitute. It sounds so apparent that it's patronising, however by no means depart your automobile unlocked and unattended."
The skilled warns in opposition to leaving automobiles operating whereas defrosting or with air-con on. A wheel lock, costing round £50, provides essential safety in opposition to keyless theft and makes automobiles visibly more durable to steal.
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Good sprint cams can alert house owners if their automobile is approached or damaged into when parked. Utilizing off-street or storage parking each time potential can also be strongly really helpful.