CAR thieves are running riot in three city locations, new data has shown.

Of a total 4,659 crimes committed in Worcester, 144 of those were vehicle crimes, including car thefts and thefts of items from vehicles. 

This means vehicle crime accounted for 3% of all reported offences in Worcester in the six-month period between March and August this year. 

This paper's analysis of those crimes shows there are three neighbourhoods which have been hit particularly hard by car thieves. 

Unsurprisingly, one of those areas is in the city centre, specifically the catchment encompassing Foregate Street and Crowngate Bus Station, which in fact takes the unwanted crown of the most prolific hunting ground for vehicle predators.

A whopping 12 cars have been hit by thieves in the area, making it technically the least safe place to leave your car in Worcester. 

However, following extremely closely behind is the Nunnery Wood neighbourhood, which includes Worcester Sixth Form College and both Nunnery Wood Primary and High school in its borders. 

11 vehicle thefts or thefts from vehicles have been reported to the police in this area, more than double any other neighbourhood outside of the top three most hit. 

Last but by no means least is the Lyppard Bourne area, in Warndon Villages, which has seen a total of nine car thefts or thefts of items from vehicles reported to the authorities in the same period. 

Made with Flourish

Just last month, police insisted there were a number of measures which have been put into practice to help tackle the spike in vehicle crime.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "A wide variety of advice on how to keep yourselves, your property and your business safe is available here: https://www.westmercia.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/.

"Local advice, updates and information can also be found on Neighbourhood Matters.

"Anyone can sign up to receive updates and alerts from your local policing teams.  

"Head to https://neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk to find out more.

"Neighbourhood Matters really can make a big difference in our communities by allowing us to send and receive messages via email, text and voice message.

"It’s a vital tool for our force, helping us to strengthen relationships with our local communities and fulfil the policing promises set out in our Local Community Policing Charter. 

"This means we are now targeting specific geographical areas and user groups, sending out alerts about incidents and crime trends as well as issuing crime prevention advice."

Have you been affected by vehicle crime? If so, we'd like to hear from you. Get in touch at frankie.rudland@newsquest.co.uk.