Endsleigh’s Motor Thefts Index also looks at the riskiest and safest towns and cities for motor thefts, naming Hull as the riskiest place in the UK for the second year running. Swindon came out on top – being named the safest place for thefts, also for the second year.

The report identifies the ten safest and riskiest UK towns and cities for vehicle thefts. This includes claims for stolen cars and possessions found in them, such as ipods and sat navs. The results were collected by analysing motor claims over the last three years from the tens of thousands of Endsleigh policyholders in the UK. The report ranks towns and cities by comparing the frequency of theft claims between towns and cities in order to determine the risk, rather than simply looking at the total number of incidents.

Stuart Wartalski, Endsleigh spokesperson, said:

“It will be reassuring to students to know they are making fewer claims, however they are still particularly vulnerable to the theft of high-value possessions from their vehicles, such as DVDs, laptops, ipods and sat navs, especially if they are equipped with minimal security. With more and more people taking cars to university, students should take extra care not to leave their possessions in sight, even if only for a few minutes, such as when filling up at the petrol station.”

Wes Streeting, NUS President, said:

“Students tend to be at a higher risk of motor theft than many other members of the public and this may be due to limited vehicle security and the higher risk areas in which their cars are parked. However Endsleigh’s research shows if young drivers keep high-value possessions such as MP3 players and laptops out of sight then they can significantly reduce the risk of vehicle crime.”    

Endsleigh has offered the following top tips for drivers to try and reduce the risk of thefts:

• Hide or remove all traces of valuable possessions from your car, including mobile phones, ipods and satellite navigation systems;
• Ensure that your vehicle is equipped with an effective alarm system;
• Use a steering wheel lock;
• Employ an engine immobiliser;
• Park in a well lit place at night;
• Ensure your car is locked at all times, including when the car is left unattended for short periods of time such as at petrol stations.