Older cars most likely to be stolen in UK

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

LONDON, Dec 22 (Reuters) Vauxhall's ageing Belmont saloon was the car most likely to have been stolen in Britain last year, as Home Office figures showed that the risk of car theft rises with the age of the vehicle.

More than 1 in 13 of the 5,700 Belmonts remaining on roads were stolen last year, according the Home Office's latest Car Theft Index published today.

The Belmont, only produced for four years in the mid-1980s, was a variant of Vauxhall's Astra Mark 2 hatchback, itself the second most stolen car last year.

Ford's Mark 3 Escort was the next most likely car to be taken by thieves.

Other cars in the top ten included old Rover and Morris models.

But Home Secretary John Reid said the rate of car theft had fallen by almost a third over the past two years.

''That is a testament to the effort of all those working with police and manufacturers to make cars more difficult to steal.'' He said the compulsory fitting of electronic immobilisers since 1998 had also had a major impact on cutting car theft.

Vauxhall spokesman Tom Barnard said most of the old Astras and Belmonts stolen would probably have been taken by joy-riders.

''They are not stolen for any sort of profit,'' he said.

''Technology has changed a lot over the last 20 years. Now you won't steal a car without having the keys, unless you are very dedicated,'' he added.

Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said owners of older vehicles could reduce the risk of theft by using a steering lock when they parked their cars.

TOP TEN CARS MOST LIKELY TO BE STOLEN IN 2005 1 - Vauxhall Belmont 2 - Vauxhall Astra Mk2 3 - Ford Escort Mk3 4 - Austin/Morris Metro 5 - Vauxhall Nova 6 - Ford Orion 7 - Rover Metro 8 - Austin/Morris Maestro 9 - Austin/Morris Montego 10 - Ford Fiesta Mks 1, 2&3 REUTERS MS BD0949

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