Figures show new car security beats the thief

12/12/1997

NEW cars are statistically less likely to be stolen than older vehicles as a result of the higher levels of standard security insisted upon by fleet operators. New figures released by the Home Office show that 82% of new cars fall into the 'low' or 'medium' risk categories with none branded 'high' risk. The statistics offer proof that the extra security measures increasingly fitted as standard to new cars are having a dramatic deterrent effect.

Home Office Minister Alun Michael said: 'Although it is difficult to be precise about why the newer cars are less likely to be stolen, part of the reason must lie in the improvements made to security features by manufacturers in recent years.'

Compiled from statistics from the Police National Computer and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Car Theft Index colour codes cars according to the incidence of theft relating to that specific model. Low risk means less than three cars per 1,000 registered are stolen; medium risk between three and 26 stolen and high risk more than 26 per 1,000 stolen. The most popular targets for car-thiefs are Vauxhall Cavaliers built between 1980 and 1988, Austin Metros and Montegos of a similar vintage and Ford XR2s dating back to 1980.