One stolen every four minutes - inside the police battle against vehicle thieves

A police operation in London resulted in the arrest of a suspect after locating a stolen Ford Transit van within 25 minutes. Despite local successes, a vehicle is stolen every four minutes across the UK, with vehicle thefts increasing nearly 50% in England and Wales over the past decade. Police report that thieves are more confident and that car theft has become a lucrative global crime, with vehicles often sent abroad or dismantled in chop shops. Victims feel frustrated and scared, citing quick thefts and slow police response times.