Did you know, over 54,000 cars were stolen in the UK in 2025? That’s one every 10 minutes, or an average of six cars per hour!
What cars do thieves target?
If you think thieves only have eyes for shiny SUVs or sports cars, you’d be wrong.
It turns out that the Ford Fiesta was the most frequently stolen car of 2025, with over 3,500 ending up in the hands of thieves. Some believe it’s the demand for second-hand parts that’s driving criminals to target them.
This was then followed by the VW Golf, with over 1,600 stolen in 2025.
How can I keep my car safe?
So, how can we keep our small hatchbacks and family cars safe from thieves? Firstly, we need to start paying closer attention to car security.
It may seem obvious, but there are some basic precautions you can take every time you leave your car unattended.
Keep your car safe by:
- Shutting the windows
- Closing the sunroof
- Locking the doors
- Locking the boot
- Removing the key from the ignition
If you don’t lock your car, you could invalidate your insurance.
That’s why it’s important to always check you’ve secured your car correctly – even if you’re only stepping away for a minute.
Find a safe spot to park
Parking in a safe spot is also key.
When parking on the road, make potential thieves think twice by parking your car on a well-lit busy street, in full view of passers-by.
If you need to use a car park, try to find one with the police-approved Safer Parking scheme, which displays the Park Mark logo. Head to their website to find a Park Mark car park near you.
Alternatively, look for a car park that has attendants and is patrolled.
When you park at home, use your garage if you have one and remember to lock your car and the garage door.
Once you've parked, use an immobiliser to prevent the car from being driven away (most cars will already have one already fitted, as the Government made this compulsory in 1998).
These days, an increasing number of motorists also use simple steering locks to help deter thieves. Check out this review of steering locks on Auto Express to find out more.
Beware of the opportunist thief
Old-fashioned steering wheel locks act as a visual deterrent. If it’s going to take a thief a long time to steal your car, they probably won’t bother.
Here are some other ways to prevent your car from becoming a target:
- Keep the doors locked while driving and hide anything of value to prevent opportunist thieves from taking advantage of traffic jams or red lights.
- If a thief attempts to steal your car while you're in it, use the horn and car lights to attract attention.
- Never leave valuables on display while parked or on the move, and don’t leave driving documents and vehicle registration details in your car either.
- Don't attract opportunist thieves by displaying your keys in view.
Keep your keys safe
Finally, make sure your keys or key fob are kept safe and secure.
When you’re at home, don’t leave your keys near the letterbox or on a shelf in the hall where a rod and hook could fish them out.
And when you're out and about, keep your keys secure and avoid leaving them in easily accessible places, such as coat pockets or unattended bags.
While some thieves may try to steal your keys directly, others use more sophisticated methods, such as relay theft. They’ll use equipment to capture and extend your key’s signal, tricking your car into thinking the key is nearby.
For relay theft to work, thieves need to be close enough to your keys to intercept the signal. You can reduce this risk by keeping your keys away from doors and windows when you're at home. For extra protection, store them in a metal container or a signal-blocking Faraday pouch, which is designed to prevent the signal from being detected.
And remember, if your keys are lost or stolen, contact your insurer as soon as possible to report it.
