The number of vehicle thefts in Lancashire fell by 28% in 2020, according to analysis by Quotezone.co.uk using the latest data gathered by the Economic Policy Centre.

Lancashire Constabulary recorded 7,160 vehicle thefts in 2020, down from 9,950 in 2019 Despite the dramatic drop, Lancashire held 19th spot for the highest crime rate nationwide – 5.45 reported crime per 1,000 residents last year.

The lockdown restrictions resulted in some of the biggest drops, with thefts plummeting 45% at the height of the first lockdown in April 2020 when compared to the same month a year before.

London’s Metropolitan Police Service topped the vehicle crime rate across the country with 15.1 reported thefts per 1,000 residents.

The figures compiled by UK CrimeStats – a leading crime data research and analysis platform – covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland and gathers data based on reported crimes from 43 police forces. Vehicle theft refers to taking items from a vehicle or stealing the vehicle itself.

Responding to the new data, Greg Wilson, founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “It’s good news that Lancashire’s vehicle crime rate dropped so much during the past year.  However, there will be many areas that remain crime hotspots in the county, particularly in urban areas and we’re yet to see how crime rebounds when restrictions lift. So, it’s worth putting extra precautions in place now, such as keeping cars in locked garages overnight or parking on driveways, to reduce risk and possibly lower insurance premiums. 

“For those people who still find themselves victims of car crime, it is important to know what to do when you arrive at the scene.  Make sure to call the police and your insurers as quickly as possible, don’t touch anything at the scene and take photos if you can – many households now have CCTV which can be incredibly useful if your car is stolen from home.”

Quotezone.co.uk compares over 110 UK car insurance providers to help customers get a competitive price and a policy that suits them best.Recommended by 97% of reviewers, Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including niche items such as young driver insurance, over 70s car insurance and third party insurance.