Among the Bradford residents hit by vehicle crime was driving instructor Steven Cranfield, whose car was stolen from outside his home in Wibsey – leaving him without a vehicle to teach his students.

The Renault Clio, which had dual controls and was leased by Mr Cranfield from a specialist company, disappeared in April 2017. The car was discovered about five weeks later outside a house in Blackburn but was so badly damaged it had to be written off.

It was one of 4,142 vehicles reported stolen to West Yorkshire Police during 2016 and 2017. The figure includes vehicles taken during burglaries from residential and business properties as well as during robberies.

Mr Cranfield’s driving lesson resources, which he had left inside the car, were gone.

The 48-year-old said: “It did affect my business, especially for people who had their tests coming up and had to get used to a new car.

“It can be off-putting for a learner driver. One student had their test about a week later and I’m glad to say they passed.

“I lost all my books for work which were in the car, and my roof box.

“I think the keys may have been taken from inside our house.

“I lost two or three days’ work while I waited for a courtesy car.

“I think it probably cost me about £1,000 overall, but it might have been more because it was a driving school car. The problem is more the inconvenience of having your car stolen. It is just a car and you can replace it but your costs can go up.

“But I don’t like the idea that they may have taken the keys from inside our house. My wife had her car broken into just before Christmas at Judy Woods and they took all of the Christmas presents so she had to go back to the shops and buy them all over again.”