Thieves are turning back to the 1980s.
Car crime in Britain has jumped up by eight per cent in just a year, with 81,000 vehicles stolen from their owners last year.
Proving that classic cars are just as much a target for thieves, 40 classic Fords were stolen in the first 4 months of this year.
Rising values and a shortage of parts, make classics highly desirable for criminals warns stolen vehicle recovery business Tracker.
Head of Police Liaison at Tracker, and a former Chief Superintendent for South Yorkshire Police, Andy Barrs says, “Classics from the 1980s are appreciating in value, making them hot ticket items for car criminals.
“Since the majority of modern classics lack the sophisticated identification markings of newer vehicles, vehicle identities are much easier to alter, thus making them harder to trace.
“Despite owners having lovingly restored their pride and joy, many fail to protect them with a tracking device, significantly reducing the chances of being reunited with the car in the event of it being stolen.
“Even more heart breaking for owners, is the fact that the majority of stolen classic cars will be stripped down for parts, unless they are tracked and recovered within the first 24 hours of being stolen. Hotspot theft areas tend to be in the South East, due to the speed at which vehicles can be moved to ports such as Felixstow and Dover, and then shipped to Europe and beyond
“Many classic cars are not for everyday use, with owners commonly keeping them in storage for long periods of time. This gives thieves the perfect opportunity to steal them while owners assume their vehicle is safe, locked away and out of sight.”
