Theft method watch · updated 6 November 2026
How vehicles are being stolen in the UK, and how to stop it
Thieves change tactics as car makers close old gaps. This watch follows police forces, GOV.UK and trusted UK press every day, files each new report under the method it describes, and explains how to protect against it.
Dual layer protection
No single product beats every method, so we recommend dual layer protection on any car worth protecting. The first layer stops the vehicle being started or moved, usually an aftermarket immobiliser or a physical lock. The second layer gets it back if the first is beaten: a monitored tracker that alerts you and guides police to it.
| Method | Reports | Latest report |
|---|---|---|
| Relay theft | 0 | none recently |
| CAN injection | 0 | none recently |
| Key programming theft | 0 | none recently |
| Burglary for car keys | 0 | none recently |
| Lock signal jamming | 0 | none recently |
| Tracker jamming | 0 | none recently |
| Car cloning | 0 | none recently |
| Catalytic converter theft | 0 | none recently |
| Van break-ins for tools | 0 | none recently |
| Motorbike lift-and-load theft | 0 | none recently |
How this watch works
- Sources. Police press releases, GOV.UK announcements, national and regional UK news and motoring press.
- Headlines only. We link to the original story and never copy it.
- Awareness, not instructions. Each guide says what a method is in plain words, never how to carry it out.
- Great Britain only. England, Scotland and Wales.
Want both layers fitted? See immobiliser installation and tracker installation.