More than 30,000 cars were stolen in London last year, with the vast majority of cases remaining unsolved, according to data from the Liberal Democrats. Of the 31,017 thefts in 2023, 87.2% were not resolved by the Metropolitan Police, the highest proportion of any force in England and Wales.
Only 1.6% of cases resulted in a charge, down from 2.4% in 2021. The number of thefts rose sharply from 24,160 in 2021, meaning an average of 74 unsolved car thefts each day in the capital.
Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney described the situation as a “car theft epidemic” that the government is failing to tackle. “Criminal gangs are being allowed to act with impunity while victims are denied justice,” she said.
A Home Office spokesperson noted that vehicle crime has fallen 22% since December 2019, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, and stressed that the government expects police to take vehicle crime seriously.
The Met Police advised drivers to fit steering locks and remove valuables from display as deterrents, adding that all reported crimes are assessed for viable lines of inquiry.
