Car theft has evolved from joyriding and stripping stereos to increasingly sophisticated electronic attacks and organised criminal networks. In a new episode of YouTube motoring series The Late Brake Show, presenter Jonny Smith visits Thatcham Research to find out how the industry is fighting back.
Watch the full video here:
Smith meets Steve Launchbury, Thatcham Research’s principal engineer for automotive security, who explains how vehicle protection has improved over the decades – and how thieves continue to find new ways around it.
Launchbury estimates that around 620,000 vehicles were stolen annually in the UK about 30 years ago. Today, he puts the figure at approximately 128,000 across all vehicle types, including motorcycles and mopeds, with around 52,000 cars stolen. However, modern vehicles and their components remain valuable targets for organised criminals.
The film explores how security has developed from basic locks and alarms to coded keys, immobilisers and electronic systems designed to prevent unauthorised access. Yet keyless entry and vulnerabilities in vehicle electronics have created new opportunities for thieves, prompting manufacturers to develop increasingly sophisticated countermeasures.
One surprising trend is the renewed popularity of physical steering-wheel locks, even among owners of new cars. Although they cannot guarantee protection, their visible presence can make a vehicle a less attractive target.
The investigation also examines what happens after a car is stolen. Launchbury describes how vehicles can be given false identities, exported in shipping containers or driven abroad using fraudulent numberplates. International routes can make recovering stolen vehicles considerably more difficult.
Thatcham Research works with insurers and manufacturers to assess new vehicles’ security, identify weaknesses and encourage improvements. As theft methods evolve, that work must keep pace with emerging electronic attacks and increasingly organised criminal operations.
Watch the full episode of The Late Brake Show at the link above. The film is the first of three made with Thatcham Research, with future episodes covering vehicle safety and repair.
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