Channel 4 investigate the world of Britain’s car theft gangs

Many stolen car victims find the case remains unsolved and justice elusive…

Every day, 168 cars are stolen from Britain’s roads and driveways. That’s one theft every eight and a half minutes.

In February this year Fleetwise noted that ‘figures from the DVLA, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, reveal 61,343 reported stolen vehicles. Despite the decline, this remains the third highest figure in a decade and more than double the thefts recorded in 2015.’ The report also notes car thefts in the UK fell by 6% in 2024, with high-end, high-performance models the ones no longer sought by criminals.

Also last year a GB News investigation found that car theft was spiralling out of control, with thieves targeting any and all vehicles parked on driveways across the UK, with hundreds taking place every month.

‘Data from Freedom of Information requests sent to all police forces around the UK revealed that car crime is still a major issue for millions of people, with technological advancements potentially making them more at risk.’ GB News reported at the time.

What and who is behind all this crime?

In a Dispatches investigation, reporter Matt Shea goes on the trail of stolen cars to track down the thieves and recover the vehicles. Matt meets whistleblowers and criminals, and he goes undercover to expose the truth about Britain’s car crime epidemic.

Dispatches: Britain’s Car Theft Gangs Exposed, Channel 4, Thursday June 19th at 8pm