![\"\\u200bAround](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/u200baround-70-incidents-of-vw-badge-theft-were-reported-in-london.jpg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\nThe Metropolitan Police has warned that criminals are using sophisticated methods to target vehicles and steal hood ornaments.<\/p>\n
A crime spree across the capital saw more than 70 car badges stolen over the course of four days, with Volkswagen vehicles targeted.<\/p>\n
The Met confirmed that it would be investigating incidents between July 15 and 19 after victims claimed that the front badges of their Volkswagen models were stolen.<\/p>\n
Experts have warned that the badges contain several vital sensors for driver-assistance features, potentially putting motorists in danger when behind the wheel.<\/p>\n
The badges could potentially be worth hundreds of pounds, and, concerningly, can be removed from the vehicle in a matter of seconds.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Times, one victim reported that she had seen a drone flying over her garden before the badge from her Volkswagen T-Roc was stolen.<\/p>\n
She described it as being “highly organised”, adding that the criminals “knew exactly” where every car was parked.<\/p>\n
Another victim, Graham Dunn, explained that he had contacted the Metropolitan Police with CCTV footage of the theft.<\/p>\n
Around 70 incidents of VW badge theft were reported in London<\/p>\n
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He added: “It was two guys on Lime bikes, it took sub-five seconds, and they’ve done nearly two grand of damage in that time. They harvested this area.”<\/p>\n
The incidents are reported to have taken place in Catford, Forest Hill, Ladywell, Honor Oak, East Dulwich and Lewisham.<\/p>\n
PC Olly Rutherford, who is leading the investigation into the thefts, noted that there were around 70 thefts that are believed to have taken place.<\/p>\n
He said: “We are aware of a number of incidents in south-east London over recent weeks in which car badges, including the vehicle’s radar sensors, have been stolen.<\/p>\n
![\"Volkswagen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/volkswagen-badge.jpg\"){kind=icon}
The Metropolitan Police have called for VW drivers to park in safe areas <\/p>\n
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“Inquiries remain underway and we would ask anyone else who believes they have been victim of this type of crime to report the details to us.<\/p>\n
“Similarly, anyone who has information which has not yet been shared with police is asked to get in touch with us as soon as possible.”<\/p>\n
The Met has urged motorists with Volkswagen models to park in secure, well-lit areas to reduce the chances of having their vehicles targeted.<\/p>\n
Similar advice applies to any owners of vehicles with sophisticated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems technology installed in their vehicles.<\/p>\n
![\"Mike](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mike-d-of-the-beastie-boys-inspired-a-generation-of-vw-badge-thefts-in-the-1980s.jpg\"){kind=icon}
Mike D of the Beastie Boys inspired a generation of VW badge thefts in the 1980s <\/p>\n
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GB News has contacted Volkswagen for a comment.<\/p>\n
This is not the first time that thieves have targeted Volkswagen badges, although a previous spate of thefts was inspired by hip hop icons, Beastie Boys.<\/p>\n
Mike D was pictured frequently wearing a Volkswagen badge on a chain around his neck in the music video for the band’s hit (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!).<\/p>\n
It inspired a spate of thefts across the world as hip hop fans attempted to emulate Mike D and the Beastie Boys in the 1980s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Metropolitan Police has warned that criminals are using sophisticated methods to target vehicles and steal hood ornaments.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":734404,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[35884,84,7816,924,59,655,388,50,56,54,55,36153],"class_list":["post-734403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-across-the-uk","tag-business","tag-cars","tag-crime","tag-gb","tag-lifestyle","tag-london","tag-news","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-volkswagen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=734403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/734403\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/734404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=734403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=734403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=734403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}