Only a small number of car thefts in Surrey ended with criminal charges, police data has shown, as organised crime groups “exploit” the county’s location and access to major road networks.<\/p>\n
Surrey Police recorded 1,551 vehicle thefts in 2025 and of those, 34 resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed – equalling 2.19% concluding with a criminal charge.<\/p>\n
In three quarters of cases, not a single suspect was identified.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Surrey Police said the force took vehicle theft “extremely seriously”, adding: “Vehicle theft remains a challenge in Surrey, partly due to the county’s location and access to major road networks, which are exploited by organised crime groups operating across the Force boundary lines.”<\/p>\n
‘Completely unacceptable’<\/p>\n
Helen Maguire, MP for Epsom and Ewell, said this showed the Government had been “asleep at the wheel” and called for a return to “proper neighbourhood policing” to crack down on the issue.<\/p>\n
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service<\/a>: “Across Surrey, people rely on their cars to get to work, take their kids to school, and get themselves to the doctors and other essential services.<\/p>\n “It is completely unacceptable that 1,551 individuals and families in our county have had their vehicles stolen, with so few of those responsible ever brought to justice.<\/p>\n “The Government is asleep at the wheel and people in Surrey are paying the price.”<\/p>\n The Home Office said it was carrying out the biggest reform of policing in two centuries to bring officers closer to communities they served.<\/p>\n They said it would ensure that policing was in the right places to tackle crimes that impacted people’s lives.<\/p>\n A Surrey Police spokesperson added: “Offences often occur overnight, with criminals using sophisticated methods and quickly moving stolen vehicles across force boundaries.<\/p>\n “These factors can make identifying suspects and securing sufficient evidence for prosecution more challenging.”<\/p>\n Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook<\/a>, on X<\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk <\/a>or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links