FLEETS are winning the battle to combat car crime, with high security new models defeating thieves, according to recently released figures.

The Home Office police recorded crime figures reveal that all car crime — thefts of and from vehicles — has dropped 7% in the last year, after falling 3% last year. Thefts of vehicles actually dropped by more — down 10% on last year. The number of offences related to vehicles has fallen from 1,043,918 last year to 968,447 in the 12 months up to March 2001. The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, which has seen a decline of 50% in the number of vehicles stolen from its members in the last five years, from 2,293 in 1995 to 1,119 last year, welcomed the results.

John Lewis, BVRLA director general said: 'We believe that the BVRLA has played a significant role in persuading manufacturers to fit better security equipment to their vehicles.'

The Vehicle Crime Reduction Group estimates that about 375,000 cars are stolen every year. According to the British Crime Survey, 58% of stolen vehicles were recovered, although 31% were damaged beyond repair. However, detection rates for theft of and from vehicles is the worst for all crime, with only 8% ending with a conviction.

The Government has a target to reduce car crime by 30% by 2004.