Motor vehicle thefts are spiralling in the UK as a top cop warns drivers that criminals are stealing cars to break them down for parts, with some regions seeing a near 30 percent increase in vehicles targeted in one year.
Superintendent Jim Munro of West Midlands Police is telling motorists that even vehicles left in car parks for only a few minutes can pose a risk.
There were 88,915 car thefts during the 12 year to March 7 – that’s a theft every six minutes, according to the Mirror.
The figures come from data recorded by 34 police forces.
The worst-hit regions for car thefts are South Yorkshire (up 28 percent), City of London (up 25 percent), West Midlands (up 19 percent), Surrey (up 12 percent), Merseyside (up four percent) and Greater Manchester (up one percent).
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Mr Munro warned drivers that some thieves use special gadgets to help pinch cars.
He said: “They’re using devices in order to block signals where people are trying to lock their cars with their fobs.
“When you’re locking your vehicle, make sure…
