Three out of every four car thefts remained unsolved in the past year, as per recent statistics. Data from the House of Commons library shows that a concerning 76% of all car theft cases went unresolved, with the Metropolitan police being the worst-performing force area, leaving 88% of incidents unsolved.
Several police forces including the British Transport Police, South Yorkshire, City of London, Sussex, and Warwickshire police reported over 80% of car thefts unsolved. Among the 44 police forces in England and Wales, a significant 35 forces recorded a total unsolved rate of 60% for all cases.
The Home Office reported a 12% decrease in vehicle crime in the year leading up to June 2025, with a 7% drop in vehicle theft. Additionally, new legislation is being introduced to outlaw electronic devices used to bypass car security, with offenders facing up to five years in prison for such actions.
In response to the high rate of unsolved car thefts, the Liberal Democrats are advocating for the establishment of a specialized team at the National Crime Agency. This team would leverage data from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, insurance records, and intelligence sources to target organized car crime networks.
Max Wilkinson MP, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, expressed concern over the lack of support for crime victims and called for a crackdown on car theft to apprehend organized criminal groups. The Home Office emphasized the detrimental impact of vehicle theft on individuals, families, businesses, and the broader industry, highlighting the ongoing efforts by the government and police to combat this issue through various measures and collaborations with industry stakeholders.