Scottish Government

VEHICLE CRIME IN SCOTLAND: FINDINGS FROM THE 2000 SCOTTISH CRIME SURVEY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Scottish Crime Survey (SCS) measures crimes directly experienced by people living in private households. The 2000 SCS is the fifth survey of its kind to be carried out in Scotland since the early 1980s. This report presents the findings of the extent and characteristics of motor vehicle crime in Scotland.

MAIN FINDINGS

• The rate of motor vehicle crime has been dropping since the first Scottish Crime Survey in 1993. During 1995, nearly one fifth (18%) of vehicle owning households had experienced at least one motor vehicle related crime in Scotland, and in 1999 this figure fell to nearer one-eighth (13%).
• The biggest drop of all types of crime was for attempted thefts of or from a motor vehicle, which fell by 53% (from 60,400 in 1995 to 28,300 in 1999).
• In 1999, the most common form of motor vehicle crime was vandalism to a motor vehicle.
• Even though the amount of motor vehicle crime dropped during 1999, people were no less worried about vehicle crime in 1999 than in 1995.
• One in five victims of motor vehicle crime were victimised more than once in 1999, a similar proportion to that reported in the 1996 SCS.
• The risk of vehicle crime was highest for those living in large settlements.
• For incidents of theft from a vehicle, the items most commonly reported as stolen were vehicle parts (74%), followed by clothes, toys, games or sports equipment.
• Almost half (43%) of all vehicle crimes were reported to have occurred at night (between midnight and 6am).
• The risk of becoming a victim of vehicle crime was highest for those who parked their vehicles in the street and lowest for those who parked in a garage. Half of all motor vehicle crimes took place on a street near the victim's home.
• The average net cost for victims of all types of motor vehicle crime was 240. The mean cost of vehicle theft alone was much higher (1,057). When theft of vehicle was excluded, the mean net cost to the victim fell to 162.