Bin lorries and fire engines among vehicles stolen in 2023
Wed, 16 Oct 2024
Ambulances, bin lorries, road sweepers and hearses were among the vehicles reported stolen in 2023, new figures from the DVLA reveal.
The RAC Foundation, which uncovered the data through a Freedom of Information request, says it shows there is literally no type of vehicle that someone won’t steal.
Of more than 100,000 vehicles stolen in 2023, thefts included nine ambulances, seven ride-on lawnmowers, four bin lorries, three road sweepers and two tar sprayers.
Sky News says they also included one hearse, a concrete mixer, sewage tank emptier – and a fire engine.
"Some will be taken for resale, some for a joyride, but many will be broken up for parts or shipped abroad out of the way of prying eyes," says RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding.
Because of this, commercial vehicles are surprisingly vulnerable, possibly because of their inherent value, or maybe for components.
The figures show that there were 106,524 stolen vehicle reports made by police forces to the DVLA in 2023.
The most commonly stolen vehicles were five-door hatchbacks, with 24,518 thefts, followed by estate cars (20,685), motorbikes (18,673) and small vans (11,172).
The most commonly-stolen cars include the Ford Fiesta, the Ford Focus and the Volkswagen Golf, thanks to their ubiquity on UK roads.
