AVON and Somerset Police this week hit back at claims by local MP Rachel Gilmour that a “shocking” spate of car thefts in the area had resulted in only 2.4 per cent of culprits ending up in court.

Calling for a return to “proper neighbourhood policing” to crack down on car theft crime, Mrs Gilmour said that 3,167 vehicles were reported stolen to Avon and Somerset Police last year but more than 73 percent of cases were not solved.

She added: “It’s an absolute scandal that 3,167 victims of crime are having their vehicles snatched from them while the criminals get away scot-free.”

In a statement to the Free Press this week, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “In 2025 dozens of car thieves were charged following police investigations in Avon and Somerset.

“The charge rate is the same as the national average and we will always strive to improve that figure.

"Unfortunately, there are many times where there is insufficient evidence to enable a suspect to be identified or charged, for example no CCTV capturing the offence or checks of automatic number plate recognition cameras proving negative to track the stolen car.

"We would encourage all victims report these crimes, because doing so allows us to build up a full picture of what is happening so we can plan uniformed patrols in most affected areas, which can help prevent crimes in the future.”

The spokesperson added: “There are steps motorists can take to help deter thieves, which we would encourage them to follow.

“For example, do not store valuable items in your vehicle overnight, park the vehicle in a secure garage where possible and invest in GPS and alarms. More crime prevention advice can be found via our website.

"Owners of keyless-entry vehicles can take some simple steps to reduce the risk of theft. We would encourage them to keep vehicle keys away from doors and windows.

“Store spare keys securely and consider using a Faraday pouch or signal-blocking box to prevent criminals intercepting keyless-entry signals. Steering wheel locks and other visible security devices can also act as an effective deterrent.

"Crime reports should be made via 999 if the incident is in progress. If not, call 101 or report the crime online.”

Mrs Gilmour said she believed that only by restoring community policing would local officers have the time and resources to respond to reports of car theft. More visible police would deter would-be thieves.

She called for a specialist team which could pool data from automatic number plate recognition cameras, insurance records and intelligence from police forces and Border Control to target organised crime networks.

Mrs Gilmour added: “People in many parts of this constituency have to rely on their cars to get to work, take their kids to school, and access the NHS and other essential services.”

“How on earth can we expect to deter would-be thieves from nicking people’s cars when so few are ever actually charged in Avon and Somerset or anywhere else?”