FIGURES detailing every stolen vehicle over the past 12 months in Bradford have revealed the favourite targets for thieves in the district.

Between August 2019 and August 2020, more than 1,600 vehicles - cars, vans, motorbikes and even tractors - were stolen across the district.

The most popular target for car thieves may not come as a surprise to some as it is also one of the most popular cars in the district.

Stolen 117 times - equating to more than two of the motors being taken every week - was the Volkswagen Golf.

The last time we did a review of stolen vehicles in April 2019, VW Golfs were also the most stolen vehicles.

The second most stolen vehicle is also one of the most frequently spotted on Bradford’s roads, with 109 Ford Transits being stolen during the 12 month period, also more than two a week.

Fords accounted for the most frequently stolen car make across the district, with 222 taken in the year-long period - more than 18 every month.

These are the most stolen makes of vehicle in Bradford:

  1. Ford - 222
  2. Volkswagen - 201
  3. Audi - 121
  4. Vauxhall - 111
  5. Honda - 107
  6. BMW - 89
  7. Mercedes-Benz - 81
  8. Yamaha - 73
  9. Toyota - 58
  10. Nissan - 43
  11. Peugeot - 39
  12. Suzuki - 39
  13. Seat - 36
  14. Land Rover - 32
  15. Renault - 27
  16. Citroen - 25
  17. Skoda - 22

 

The figures have been revealed in a Freedom of Information request made to West Yorkshire Police by the Telegraph & Argus on the number of vehicle thefts in the district.

More than four vehicles were stolen every day in the district, and the figures revealed which makes and models were favoured by car thieves.

After VW Golfs and Ford Transits, the next most popular vehicles to steal were Audi A3s or S3s, with 58 stolen - just over one per week. This was followed by Vauxhall Astras, with 40 pinched in the 12 month period.

These are the most stolen vehicle models in Bradford:

  1. VW Golf - 117
  2. Ford Transit - 109
  3. Audi A3/S3 - 58
  4. Vauxhall Astra - 40
  5. Ford Fiesta - 37
  6. Vauxhall Corsa - 32
  7. Ford Focus - 30
  8. VW Polo - 28
  9. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter - 24
  10. Toyota Yaris - 23
  11. Seat Leon - 22

 

The car makes most sought after by Bradford’s criminal class, after Ford and Volkswagen, were Audis with 121 stolen, followed by Vauxhalls with 111 and then Honda with 107, with the vast majority of these being motorbikes.

BMWs and Mercedes-Benz vehicles were also popular, with 89 and 81 stolen, respectively.

Cars proved to be the most popular targets for vehicle thieves across the district.

Of the 1,653 vehicles stolen over the past 12 months, 1,035 of them were cars.

Of the remaining 600-plus vehicles, 377 were motorcycles, 197 were vans - more than half of which were Ford Transits - and the rest were made up of plant equipment, trailers, farm equipment and other vehicles

West Yorkshire Police said some vehicles are sometimes targeted for use in other crimes, are stolen to order, taken by opportunists or are stolen to be broken down for parts which are then sold on.

It has also advised on how to protect your vehicle, including ensuring it is locked when left unattended and that keys are kept out of sight.

Superintendent Mark Jessop said: “If your vehicle does not have an immobiliser or alarm then consider having one professionally fitted to the Thatcham quality assured standard.

“You may also want to consider a tracking device if you have an expensive or high performance vehicle, as this can make increase the possibility for police to recover it, and make arrests should it be stolen.”