A new map highlights the alarming rate of unsolved car thefts, with police resolving only 1 in 5 cases nationwide, raising concerns for victims.
London: It’s pretty shocking to hear that four out of five car thefts are going unsolved. That means a lot of thieves are getting away with it. Just last year, there were nearly 25,000 unresolved car thefts in just three months, according to the Liberal Democrats.
They found that about 78.5% of the total thefts, which were over 31,000, didn’t lead to any charges. London is at the top of the list, with the police solving only 10% of reported car thefts. South Yorkshire isn’t far behind, with 85% unsolved.
Other areas like Essex, Wiltshire, Sussex, and Hertfordshire also reported that at least 80% of car thefts were left unresolved in the last quarter. The Lib Dems are blaming the previous Tory government for cutting police numbers and are urging the new Labour government to bring back community policing.
Keir Starmer, the PM, has a plan to add 13,000 more officers and community support officers across England and Wales. Each neighborhood is supposed to have a dedicated police officer to help tackle local crime, which sounds promising.
Lisa Smart, the Lib Dem Home Affairs spokeswoman, is really worried about the number of unsolved thefts. She said, “Tens of thousands of victims are left without justice, and thieves are getting away with it.” She believes this trend needs to change and that every crime victim deserves to feel safe.
A spokesperson from the Home Office acknowledged the issue, saying they understand how distressing vehicle theft can be. They’re working with police chiefs to tackle vehicle crime and are focusing on training officers and encouraging vehicle owners to secure their cars better.
It’s definitely a situation that needs attention, and hopefully, with these new plans, things will start to improve.
