Romford sees more than 9,000 cars stolen since 2018 - study

The figures, released by Confused.com, reveal that Romford is one of the top ten areas in the UK with the highest number of car theft claims since January 2018.

A total of 9,321 cars in Romford have been stolen over the last five and a half years, according to the data, with the BMW 3 Series topping the list as the most stolen car in Romford.

Across the country, more than 250,000 car thefts have been reported since January 2018.

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The data also highlights the most targeted car models across the UK.

The Ford Fiesta tops the list with 10,346 stolen countrywide since January 2018.

In Romford, Ford Fiestas are the third most stolen car models, while the BMW 5 Series comes in second for reported car thefts.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com, said: "Having your car stolen is a stress on both your life and your living costs too.

"And with general car insurance costs at extreme highs, the impact of having your car stolen is proving to be a burden on drivers and the price they pay for their car insurance."

Mr Jones advised drivers to take extra precautions to protect their vehicles from thieves.

He suggested checking that the car is locked, hiding valuables inside the car, investing in car security such as steering wheel and handbrake locks, and installing a tracking device.

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Mr Jones said: "Taking measures to protect your car can help ensure that it doesn't become a target."

Despite the alarming number of thefts, almost nine in 10 of those who had their cars stolen said it was retrieved, with 62 per cent stating the police found it and 15 per cent saying they found it themselves.

However most of the retrieved cars were returned damaged, according to Confused.com, with drivers having to spend an average of £364 to repair damages and £671 to top up the cost of a new car.