THE Midlands has taken over from the North East as Britain's car crime blackspot, according to a new survey from the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association. More than 40% of car owners and drivers in the central region feared their cars would be broken into or vandalised, compared with 31% in the north.

Experience of car crime among those polled in the national survey has actually dropped to 8% from 10%. Awareness of vehicle crime is rising, however - 84% compared with last year's figure of 82% said vehicle security was an important factor when considering which car to buy. The overwhelming majority (92%) believe car manufacturers should do more to improve vehicle security.