Vehicle theft fell by 31% across the country in 2020, according to new analysis by Quotezone using the latest data gathered by the Economic Policy Centre.

The figures show thefts dropped from just under 440,000 in 2019 to 304,870 the following year.

In the Truro and Falmouth constituency, there was only 136 vehicle thefts or thefts from a vehicle in 2019, this dropped to 131 in 2020.

In Devon and Cornwall, there were 3,307 vehicle thefts overall in 2020.

A 12-month comparison between April 2019 and April 2020 (height of 1st lockdown) there was a 20.4% drop in reported thefts around Devon and Cornwall.

This was 39th biggest drop out of 43 police forces in Eng, Wales and NI, but Devon and Cornwall have traditionally low crime rates.

Year-on-year crimes rates (April 2019 to April 2020) were down in all areas, except Bedfordshire, which reflected the effect of the first lockdown. Drops of 40% or more in reported vehicle thefts were recorded by half of the police forces supplying data.

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

Responding to the new data, Greg Wilson, founder of Quotezone said:

"It's perhaps not surprising that the rate of vehicle crime has fallen given lockdown measures and the reduced number of cars parked on the road. However, the scale of the fall is still dramatic and it's a welcome development.

"England, Wales and Northern Ireland are diverse regions, so there will be many areas that remain crime hotspots, particularly in big cities. It's worth taking extra precautions, such as keeping cars in locked garages or on driveways overnight, in order to reduce risk and possibly lower insurance premiums in both rural and urban areas."

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