Cars Stolen in Burglaries: The Sandwell Experience

Abstract

There has been an increasing interest in the emerging trend of stealing cars using keys taken during a burglary. This paper examines the issue through analysis of West Midlands Police data from 1998 to 2004 for the Borough of Sandwell. It finds evidence not only of an increase in cars stolen in burglaries, but also that the main purpose of over half of the burglaries in which a car was stolen was to steal the vehicle. Eighty per cent of cars were stolen with keys taken in the burglary and the average age of cars stolen in burglaries was approximately half that of cars stolen in vehicle crimes, indicating that cars with immobilizers are being targeted in burglaries.