Latest news with #RichardBillyeald
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Britain's most stolen cars revealed with humble motor topping the list… where does your vehicle rank?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITAIN'S most stolen cars have been revealed with a humble motor topping the list from the Government's most recent car theft statistics. The data shows which motors are the most commonly stolen in the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Range Rovers are stolen less frequently thanks to security upgrades Credit: Nick Dimbleby 2022 4 Toyota Hilux' are a target for thieves selling into foreign markets Credit: Getty Range Rover owners can breathe easy but Hilux owners should be concerned after the sturdy Toyota pick up topped the list. Thefts of the reliable Japanese four-by-four were up 549 per cent in 2024, equating to 584 missing motors in just a year. Overall vehicle thefts were down 4.5 per cent last year but thefts of cars less than three-years-old rose by 6.6 per cent. Land Rover models came out well in the statistics with Range Rover Evoque thefts down a whopping 77 per cent. This brought the brand out of the list of top ten most stolen cars in Britain. The firm has been focused on security improvements with recent models after receiving a slew of theft reports from customers. Amidst the crime wave insuring a Range Rover, especially in the city, was nearly impossible for motorists. In response Land Rover's parent company JLR invested a whopping £1 million to fund proactive policing. This was aimed at tackling the organised crime groups suspected to be targeting the flash motors in the UK. The firm went on to splash out an eye-watering £17 million on updating the security of its motors. Watch moment brazen gang steals car from family driveway in under 20 seconds as thief claims robbing to order is like 'working for Amazon' This included retrospectively upgrading the key systems on 300,000 cars to the latest technology. As a result of the effort there are now no Land Rover models in the top 22 most stolen models for 2024. But car thieves have seemingly pivoted to target another off-road SUV. The near indestructible Toyota Hilux appears to be highly sought after by criminals who nick the motors using electronic bypasses to drive them off without a key. 4 BMW remained number two on the list of new cars stolen Credit: Getty 4 Kia branded motors are being stolen more often, rising from fifth to third place Credit: Getty The Hilux has a ready market in foreign countries where its ruggedness is prized and buyers are less concerned about where the motors came from. Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at the insurance industry's Thatcham Research, said: 'Top destinations for stolen UK vehicles include the Democratic Republic of Congo, UAE, Cyprus, Jamaica and Georgia, driven by global shortages of car parts, high vehicle desirability and geopolitical disruption.' With so many Hilux' being stolen police forces across the country have begun issuing warnings to owners. After 11 were nicked overnight Bedfordshire Police urged owners to take extra care. North Yorkshire Police and Nottinghamshire officers have issued similar warnings. Toyota is fighting back though, a spokesman told the Telegraph: 'Toyota GB has invested millions of pounds in a variety of solutions that help protect cars from theft. "These include protective plates, immobilisers, blockers and trackers." BMW retained its second place in the most stolen list of younger cars and Korean brand Kia rose from fifth to third place. Hyundai has claimed that in the market after February 2024 all received the latest hardware and software technology and should be safe from thieves. Thefts by region varied with Greater Manchester seeing a 20 per cent reduction but Bedfordshire, Essex and Warwickshire saw increases.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Britain's most stolen cars revealed with humble motor topping the list… where does your vehicle rank?
BRITAIN'S most stolen cars have been revealed with a humble motor topping the list from the Government's most recent car theft statistics. The data shows which 4 Range Rovers are stolen less frequently thanks to security upgrades Credit: Nick Dimbleby 2022 4 Toyota Hilux' are a target for thieves selling into foreign markets Credit: Getty Range Rover owners can breathe easy but Thefts of the reliable Japanese four-by-four were up 549 per cent in 2024, equating to 584 missing motors in just a year. Overall Land Rover models came out well in the statistics with Read more in Motors This brought the brand out of the list of top ten most stolen cars in Britain. The firm has been focused on security improvements with recent models after receiving a slew of theft reports from customers. Amidst the crime wave insuring a Range Rover, especially in the city, was nearly impossible for motorists. In response Land Rover's parent company JLR invested a whopping £1 million to fund proactive policing. Most read in Motors This was aimed at tackling the organised crime groups suspected to be targeting the The firm went on to splash out an eye-watering £17 million on updating the security of its motors. Watch moment brazen gang steals car from family driveway in under 20 seconds as thief claims robbing to order is like 'working for Amazon' This included retrospectively upgrading the key systems on 300,000 cars to the As a result of the effort there are now no Land Rover models in the top 22 most stolen models for 2024. But car thieves have seemingly pivoted to target another The near indestructible Toyota Hilux appears to be highly sought after by criminals who nick the motors using electronic bypasses to drive them off without a key. 4 BMW remained number two on the list of new cars stolen Credit: Getty 4 Kia branded motors are being stolen more often, rising from fifth to third place Credit: Getty The Hilux has a ready market in foreign countries where its ruggedness is prized and buyers are less concerned about Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at the insurance industry's Thatcham Research, said: 'Top destinations for stolen UK vehicles include the Democratic Republic of Congo, UAE, Cyprus, Jamaica and Georgia, driven by global shortages of With so many Hilux' being stolen police forces across the country have begun issuing warnings to owners. After 11 were nicked overnight North Yorkshire Police and Nottinghamshire officers have issued similar warnings. Toyota is fighting back though, a spokesman told "These include protective plates, immobilisers, blockers and trackers." Thefts by region varied with How to protect your car from thieves Wheel clamps are another great option that can prevent your car from being driven away. Again, they are highly visible as they are often sold in bright colours, and may deter opportunistic thieves looking for a quick and easy target. Traditional security measures are also considered when calculating insurance premiums. Rich Morley at Lancaster Insurance explains that, no matter what car you drive, classic or modern, traditional-style security measures can provide extra peace of mind and security for your vehicle, helping to deter thieves in the process. He added: 'When considering a risk profile, we will establish with customers any security measures they have in place to prevent potential theft."
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The law change that will make your car harder to steal
Technology used to enable keyless car theft is to be outlawed by the UK Government, it has been confirmed. Signal repeaters and jammer equipment, which have been employed by criminal gangs to scramble vehicle trackers and replicate signals from keyless fobs to remotely unlock and start cars, have not been illegal to own. Under section 68 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, only the usage of signal jammers, for example, has been deemed to be against the law, AutoExpress reports. But now, as part of the government's new Crime and Policing Bill, people will be liable for an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison if found to possess or distribute such devices. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here. Labour minister for policing, crime and fire prevention, Dame Diana Johnson MP, said: 'These thefts have a devastating effect on victims, who need their vehicles to go about their everyday lives. We are aware of the real concerns people feel with the use of these electronic devices being so prolific." Chief research and operations manager at Thatcham Research, Richard Billyeald added: "It addresses a critical vulnerability in the current vehicle security framework. By criminalising the possession and sale of these devices, we're raising the stakes for criminals while protecting the legitimate automotive sector." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. See our Privacy Notice.
