Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Why is it so easy to steal a car?

45 replies

Nivvers2001 · 28/05/2026 22:02

My car has been stolen from outside my house. Only realised this evening when I went to drive it to go shopping. Thought I gone crazy and walked up and down our street several times but yep, definitely not there. So annoying as I never had a nice car (never saw the point!) despite being able to afford one but in November last year finally spent 17k on a decent second hand family car which I loved but has now gone. I know there are bigger problems in the world but so annoying that someone can just come along and take what you have worked hard and saved for. Reported online to the police (no reply yet) and insurers. A neighbour had his car stolen last year and apparently they are driven down to Dover and onto a ship and that's it. The police don't even bother to investigate. Why is crime tolerated so much in this country?

OP posts:
Petrine · 29/05/2026 11:25

OP don't give up hope of getting your car back.

Your neighbour is incorrect in saying that the car will be on its way to the docks and shipped abroad. Only extremely expensive cars are stolen and shipped in this way.

Wibble128 · 29/05/2026 11:31

Erin1975 · 29/05/2026 11:24

They can be used to track a vehicle, but only until the thieves disable them.

But they are not used or accessed by the authorities for that purpose. Ford denied that there was a SIM even the though the car had a techmatic connection and Emerency assist. I did point this out but Ford stated it could not be done. They play us.

scalt · 29/05/2026 11:51

Keyless entry was a massive backwards step in car security, shrugged off with "you should have kept it in a Faraday pouch". The responsibility put squarely on the honest law-abiding citizen, not the car manufacturers. I also think the "take your car radio with you" was flawed logic, when that was the thing, in the 90s. Yes, fine if you remember to take it with you, but the one time you don't, it's incredibly easy to steal. Most thieves want a quick and easy job; probably a better compromise is to make it take time to remove, needing a screwdriver and so on.

There's so much flawed logic in prosecuting driving and theft offences. Penalty for driving without a licence? Disqualification. Penalty for driving without insurance? £200 fine, which can be loose change compared to the cost of insurance. Some of these should come with suspended sentences. Yeah, I know, cost, cheaper to do fixed penalties, which barely cover the cost of the admin.

The Highway Code used to say "have the registration number etched on all the windows; this is a cheap and effective deterrent to professional thieves". I'm not sure if that's still the case.

Poor old Richard Whiteley had his Jag stolen when he parked outside the Royal Armouries, he got out, and the thief simply drove it away. Richard thought it was valet parking.

Pedallleur · 29/05/2026 12:03

Certain cars are stolen to order others for parts. Toyota Prius were attacked to remove a certain exhaust part so there was an aftermarket in security for these parts. Yes, the pp who said they play us is correct. Range Rovers were being stolen every day esp in London. The Police would say claim on the insurance, the makers sell more cars
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a43081406/range-rover-theft-situation-happening-in-london/

This isn't some chancer this is a lucrative criminal enterprise. Even car parts are a business opportunity

Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 12:14

So I reported it online yesterday and still nothing from the police or my insurers. Starting to panic. Is it ok to report it online to the police?

OP posts:
Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 12:50

scalt · 29/05/2026 11:51

Keyless entry was a massive backwards step in car security, shrugged off with "you should have kept it in a Faraday pouch". The responsibility put squarely on the honest law-abiding citizen, not the car manufacturers. I also think the "take your car radio with you" was flawed logic, when that was the thing, in the 90s. Yes, fine if you remember to take it with you, but the one time you don't, it's incredibly easy to steal. Most thieves want a quick and easy job; probably a better compromise is to make it take time to remove, needing a screwdriver and so on.

There's so much flawed logic in prosecuting driving and theft offences. Penalty for driving without a licence? Disqualification. Penalty for driving without insurance? £200 fine, which can be loose change compared to the cost of insurance. Some of these should come with suspended sentences. Yeah, I know, cost, cheaper to do fixed penalties, which barely cover the cost of the admin.

The Highway Code used to say "have the registration number etched on all the windows; this is a cheap and effective deterrent to professional thieves". I'm not sure if that's still the case.

Poor old Richard Whiteley had his Jag stolen when he parked outside the Royal Armouries, he got out, and the thief simply drove it away. Richard thought it was valet parking.

Ok so the keys were in a Faraday pouch as my neighbour had warned me what happened to his, so I have no idea how they got in. And yes, this keyless ignition is insane! It's the first car I've had with this and it's a massive security issue.

OP posts:
Elbowpatch · 29/05/2026 13:05

Range Rovers were being stolen every day esp in London

A Range Rover a day is a drop in the ocean compared to other brands.

The most stolen car models in the UK 2025:

  1. Ford Fiesta – 3,511
  2. Volkswagen Golf – 1,604
  3. Ford Focus – 1,456
  4. Toyota RAV4 – 1,328
  5. Nissan Juke – 1,191
  6. Land Rover Discovery – 1,160
  7. BMW 3 Series – 1,131
  8. Toyota C-HR – 962
  9. Lexus NX – 946
  10. Vauxhall Corsa – 880
Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 13:07

Elbowpatch · 29/05/2026 13:05

Range Rovers were being stolen every day esp in London

A Range Rover a day is a drop in the ocean compared to other brands.

The most stolen car models in the UK 2025:

  1. Ford Fiesta – 3,511
  2. Volkswagen Golf – 1,604
  3. Ford Focus – 1,456
  4. Toyota RAV4 – 1,328
  5. Nissan Juke – 1,191
  6. Land Rover Discovery – 1,160
  7. BMW 3 Series – 1,131
  8. Toyota C-HR – 962
  9. Lexus NX – 946
  10. Vauxhall Corsa – 880

Mine isn't on the list

OP posts:
Elbowpatch · 29/05/2026 13:26

Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 13:07

Mine isn't on the list

It might be on the 2026 list though.

BippityBopper · 29/05/2026 13:34

Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 12:50

Ok so the keys were in a Faraday pouch as my neighbour had warned me what happened to his, so I have no idea how they got in. And yes, this keyless ignition is insane! It's the first car I've had with this and it's a massive security issue.

For future reference, it also helps to keep the keys at the furthest point from your car in the house. The further the distance, the harder it is to catch a signal.

Although I agree with others that it's daft car owners have to do these things. Keyless
entry is just idiotic. It took me some time to get used to mine. I'd get out of the car and forget I'd left my engine on 🤦‍♀️.

concertinacornflake · 29/05/2026 13:41

Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 09:36

Ok, but I didn't cut police funding. I like everyone else have been paying record levels of tax for the last 30+ years and would expect some interest in preventing crime from the government and police. Nothing.

No one says you cut the funding, the point is that's why there's less police action.
Austerity knackered the economy and harmed public services.

Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 13:53

concertinacornflake · 29/05/2026 13:41

No one says you cut the funding, the point is that's why there's less police action.
Austerity knackered the economy and harmed public services.

Austerity doesn't account for all the scumbags in this country stealing cars, does it?

OP posts:
Nivvers2001 · 29/05/2026 13:54

BippityBopper · 29/05/2026 13:34

For future reference, it also helps to keep the keys at the furthest point from your car in the house. The further the distance, the harder it is to catch a signal.

Although I agree with others that it's daft car owners have to do these things. Keyless
entry is just idiotic. It took me some time to get used to mine. I'd get out of the car and forget I'd left my engine on 🤦‍♀️.

The keys were in a faraday pouch in a back bedroom on the other side of the house from the street.

Totally agree re keyless entry being ridiculous. I have also done the same and got out and left the engine on (thought it was just me!)

OP posts:
JohnofWessex · 29/05/2026 13:58

I read an amusing account of someones first job in a general store in a seaside town.

They stocked car key's because people lost there's and could come in and get a key for a cavalier or whatever and lo and behold it would open it.

The Government and the Insurance Industry eventually got fed up with the numbers of cars stolen and the resultant carnage. They made the car makers produce cars that were much harder to break into, thats why we have immobilisers, steering locks etc

When keyless came along however the 'two factor' security was lost as there was no key and there has been no action by Government to stop this security breach. Ditto what is there no requirement for immobilisers on motorbikes & mopeds.

AndyBurnhamForPM · 29/05/2026 14:02

MrThorpeHazell · 28/05/2026 22:06

Thanks to the Conservatives "austerity" introduced by that idiot Cameron and his stooge Osborne, the police in the UK have been scandalously underfunded for years.

There's no money to prevent or investigate crime. It's as simple as that.

This.

And Reform would fund the police even less - so get ready for even more crime folks.

Iocanepowder · 29/05/2026 14:07

Sorry to hear this op.

My understanding is that it is really professional gangs that will target nice cars such as yours.

My neighnour’s fancy keyless bmw was stolen recently off their drive. It was keyless and my neighbour had it in a Faraday pouch. Even their ring doorbell didn’t capture them.

Fortysevenpl · 29/05/2026 14:08

MrThorpeHazell · 28/05/2026 22:06

Thanks to the Conservatives "austerity" introduced by that idiot Cameron and his stooge Osborne, the police in the UK have been scandalously underfunded for years.

There's no money to prevent or investigate crime. It's as simple as that.

This is turd

what’s driving car theft increase is actually the ability to steal a car by keyless relay theft and the presence of gangs who export stolen cars quickly.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 29/05/2026 14:14

I noticed the last time I was in London that most of the street parked cars had steering wheel locks. I remember when I was young, maybe 1970s, that lots of cars had steering wheel locks because the cars were easy to break into and hot wire. They obviously got more sophisticated in their security until recently when convenience has become so favoured by the manufacturers that security has taken a back seat.

EasternStandard · 29/05/2026 14:17

Fortysevenpl · 29/05/2026 14:08

This is turd

what’s driving car theft increase is actually the ability to steal a car by keyless relay theft and the presence of gangs who export stolen cars quickly.

Yep there’s been about four car thefts on this road in last couple of years.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/05/2026 15:56

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 29/05/2026 14:14

I noticed the last time I was in London that most of the street parked cars had steering wheel locks. I remember when I was young, maybe 1970s, that lots of cars had steering wheel locks because the cars were easy to break into and hot wire. They obviously got more sophisticated in their security until recently when convenience has become so favoured by the manufacturers that security has taken a back seat.

Yes, I've noticed loads round our way the steering wheel ones .

Years ago , when I had a Vauxhall Nova , (I never knew about the hazard light hotwire trick) , I had a CrookLock which I diligently attached .

There was a huge surge in thefts to order , warnings about don't leave keys on a hall table .

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread