How common is car theft in Cardiff?

In Cardiff (South Wales), vehicle crime is investigated by South Wales Police. Typical risk for the area is classified as Low to Moderate. Search your exact postcode above to view street-level incidents recorded in the past month within 1 mile.

Which police force covers vehicle crime in Cardiff?

Cardiff is policed by South Wales Police. You can report non-emergency vehicle theft or suspicious activity online or by dialling 101.

What are the most common car theft hotspots in Cardiff?

Vehicle crime in Cardiff typically concentrates around public car parks, railway commuter parking, retail parks, and poorly lit residential avenues where keyless relay attacks can take place.

South Wales Police · South Wales

Car Theft in Cardiff: Rates, Statistics & Hotspots

Cardiff and South Wales generally boast lower rates of car theft than English industrial metros, with most vehicle crime consisting of opportunistic theft from unattended vehicles.

Popular locations:

Cardiff (South Wales)

Live Radar

Showing recorded incidents within a 1-mile radius (~3.14 sq miles) of CF101AA (Cardiff)

South Wales

Data: July 2026

Vehicle Crime RiskSEVERE

164incidents / month

Low (0-3)Moderate (4-12)High (13-28)Severe (29+)

1950% higher than UK urban average (1-mile radius)

Month-on-Month TrendRising

+39(+31.2%) vs June 2026

3-Month Incidents Timeline

May

101

June

125

July

164

Direct monthly street comparison verified with official Police UK records.

Unsolved RateInvestigation Status

43.9%closed without suspect

Under investigation92 (56.1%)

Investigation complete; no suspect identified72 (43.9%)

National UK average: ~74% of vehicle crimes are closed with no suspect identified.

Top Street Hotspots

Highest concentration of vehicle interference & theft

8 locations

1On or near Parking Area

29 incidents17.7% of total

2On or near Knox Road

9 incidents5.5% of total

3On or near Newport Road Lane

8 incidents4.9% of total

4On or near Sports/recreation Area

6 incidents3.7% of total

5On or near Davis Street

5 incidents3% of total

6On or near Charles Street

4 incidents2.4% of total

7On or near Petrol Station

3 incidents1.8% of total

8On or near Crawshay Street

3 incidents1.8% of total

UK Parking & Security Checklist

Recommended countermeasures for this risk zone

Use a Faraday pouch or box for keyless car fobs to block relay signal amplifiers.

Fit a Sold Secure / Thatcham-approved steering wheel lock as a highly visible mechanical deterrent.

Consider fitting a Ghost immobiliser or Thatcham Cat S5 tracker with remote kill switch.

Park under street lighting or in view of domestic CCTV/video doorbells where possible.

Lock OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) ports or fit an OBD port blocker to prevent key cloning.

View UK-Wide Theft League Table Check Car MOT History

Check Vehicle Crime in Other UK Cities

Car Theft in Guildford Car Theft in London Car Theft in Birmingham Car Theft in Manchester Car Theft in Bristol Car Theft in Leeds Car Theft in Sheffield Car Theft in Liverpool Car Theft in Newcastle Car Theft in Nottingham Car Theft in Southampton