Vehicle thefts now increasingly complex, say police

A police force said vehicle thefts have become "increasingly complex" after figures showed the amount of reported incidents doubled in a decade.

Figures from Cambridgeshire Police, obtained by the BBC, showed the number of reported vehicle thefts rose from 692 in 2015-16 to 1,464 in 2025-26, an increase of about 111%.

Between that same period, the number of cases resulting in charges had dropped from 8.4% in 2015-16 to 3.4% in 2025-26.

A force spokesperson said: "Vehicle theft has become increasingly complex over the past decade, with offenders using increasingly sophisticated techniques and organised crime groups often operating across force boundaries."

They added that "securing charges can be challenging as vehicles may be quickly moved out of the local area, cloned or otherwise become difficult to trace, and evidence is not always available to identify those responsible".

In 2015, the population of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough was 851,257. By 2026, this had grown to 933,972, an increase of just under 10%.

Cambridgeshire Police said it was working with regional and national partners to tackle vehicle thefts.

It said officers used hotspot patrols, focusing on issues including vehicle security, keyless theft and cloned number plates.

"We understand the significant impact having a vehicle stolen can have, which is why we remain focused on preventing offences, recovering stolen vehicles, pursuing all available lines of inquiry and bringing offenders to justice," a spokesperson added.

Police urged vehicle owners to take security measures and to report any suspicious activity.

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