Watford had highest number of car thefts in Hertfordshire in 2018

A Freedom of Information request made to Hertfordshire Constabulary on December 20, asked which town or city in the county had the most cars stolen in 2018.

Of the 602 cars reported stolen last year, Watford had the highest number of 92.

The most common car stolen in 2018 was a Ford Fiesta with 31 vehicles taken. The next most popular car stolen was a Ford Focus with 27 reported stolen. And the third most stolen vehicle in 2018 was the Vauxhall Astra with 26.

In Hertfordshire, 541 cars were reported stolen in 2017 and 411 were taken in 2016.

Watford Inspector Simon Mason said: “Tackling acquisitive crime such as theft from and theft of motor vehicles remains a priority in Watford and as part of this we have been hosting crime safety events and distributing crime prevention advice to motorists.

“Vehicle crime is reviewed daily by the Constabulary’s central Crime Reduction and Community Safety Team so that resources can be directed to hotspot areas to identify and apprehend offenders.

“Latest figures show that Watford is currently experiencing a reduction in thefts of motor vehicles, which is down 22.5% for the period from April 2018 to date, compared to the same period in 2017/18.

“We would urge motorists to follow some simple crime prevention advice to help reduce the chances of becoming a victim. This includes double checking that your doors are locked and your windows are closed when you leave your vehicle unattended, not leaving keys lying around and keeping them out of sight at home ensuring they can’t be hooked through the letterbox.

“Remember to remove all valuables from your vehicle, consider using an approved steering lock or gear clamp and never leave vehicle documents in your car as this could make it easier for thieves to sell on.

“You can access further crime prevention advice at https://www.herts.police.uk/Information-and-services/Advice/Crime-prevention/Protect-your-property/Vehicle-security.”

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