Greater Manchester Car Theft Falls 36% as Hotspots Emerge 2026

Key Points

• Car thefts in Greater Manchester dropped by 35.67% in three years.
• Greater Manchester Police reported 5,303 car theft and unauthorised taking offences in the year ended March 2026.
• This represented a drop from 5,605 in 2024/25, 6,714 in 2023/24 and 8,243 in 2022/23.
• The largest number of theft cases was recorded in Oldham at 28 offences per 10,000 people.
• There were rises in Manchester, Tameside and Salford.
• Trafford witnessed the largest percentage increase in the latest year with 9.1% increase in offences.
• According to Greater Manchester Police, targeted operations, patrols, investigations and collaborations with companies had been instrumental in reducing vehicle crimes.
• Thefts from city centres’ vehicles fell by 38% after targeting of car parks and other hot spots.
• Police and collaborating organizations have been chasing down suspected organized criminal gangs behind vehicle thefts and residential burglaries.

Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 22, 2026 — Car theft decreased by more than a third over three years, although police-recorded data shows that the problem remains concentrated in several boroughs and that some areas experienced a rise in offences during the year ending March 2026.

Greater Manchester Police recorded 5,303 incidents involving vehicle theft or the unauthorised taking of motor vehicles in the latest financial year. The figure was lower than the 5,605 offences recorded in 2024/25, 6,714 in 2023/24 and 8,243 in 2022/23.

The three-year comparison represents a reduction of 35.67%. Despite the fall, the latest total equates to approximately 442 offences each month, or around 14 incidents every day across Greater Manchester.

The figures were obtained by Secure Driveways through Freedom of Information requests submitted to GMP. The company also examined police-recorded crime data published by the Home Office for Greater Manchester’s ten Community Safety Partnership areas.

The statistics indicate that the overall reduction has not been shared equally across the region. Some boroughs recorded fewer offences, while others saw theft totals increase over the latest 12-month period.

Which Greater Manchester area has the highest theft rate?

Oldham recorded the highest rate of vehicle theft when the number of offences was measured against the local population. The borough recorded 706 vehicle thefts in 2025/26, compared with 739 in the previous year.

Although the total fell by 4.5%, the figure represented 28 vehicle thefts for every 10,000 residents. This made Oldham the highest-risk area on a population-adjusted basis among the boroughs included in the analysis.

Rochdale recorded the second-highest rate, with 522 offences in 2025/26. That was down from 585 the year before, representing a reduction of 10.8%. Rochdale recorded 22 vehicle thefts per 10,000 residents.

Manchester and Tameside shared the next-highest rate, with 20.5 offences per 10,000 residents. Salford followed with 19.7 offences per 10,000 residents.

The remaining rates were recorded as follows:

• Bolton: 16.1 thefts per 10,000 residents.
• Bury: 15.4 thefts per 10,000 residents.
• Wigan: 15 offences per 10,000 residents.
• Stockport: 13.7 thefts per 10,000 residents.
• Trafford: 12.9 thefts per 10,000 residents.

The population-adjusted figures show why total offence numbers alone do not provide a complete picture. Larger areas may record more incidents overall, while smaller boroughs can have a higher rate relative to the number of residents.

Which boroughs recorded more vehicle theft?

Manchester recorded the largest number of vehicle thefts in the latest year, with 1,207 offences. The total rose by 5.8% from 1,141 in the preceding year.

Salford recorded 586 vehicle thefts, an increase of 8.1% from 542. Tameside also recorded a rise, with offences increasing by 5.3% from 468 to 493.

Trafford experienced the sharpest percentage increase among the boroughs. Its total rose by 9.1%, from 285 offences to 311.

Wigan recorded 527 vehicle thefts, up 6% from 497. The increase places Wigan among the boroughs where the wider regional reduction was not reflected in the latest annual figures.

Other areas recorded falls or little change. Bolton’s total decreased by 8%, from 564 offences to 519. Stockport recorded 417 incidents, down from 423, while Bury remained broadly stable with 326 offences compared with 327 the previous year.

The figures suggest that vehicle theft has become less widespread across Greater Manchester over the longer term, but local hotspots continue to require specific policing and prevention measures.

What did Greater Manchester Police say about the reduction?

Detective Superintendent Simon Moyles, who oversees vehicle crime at Greater Manchester Police, said officers had worked to identify areas of concern and direct resources towards locations where the greatest problems had been recorded.

In comments reported in the Manchester Evening News article, Moyles said GMP had used targeted operations, proactive patrols, partnership working and detailed investigations to address vehicle crime and pursue those responsible.

He said police had worked with businesses, car park operators and local partners in Manchester city centre to identify hotspots, strengthen security arrangements and focus on repeat offenders.

Moyles also highlighted the effect of preventative measures in the city centre. He said that between 5 September and 5 September 2026, vehicle theft fell by 2%, theft from vehicles declined by 21% and vehicle interference decreased by 9% compared with the same period a year earlier. The source article contains some formatting gaps in the dates, so the exact comparison period should be treated as presented in the police statement.

The detective superintendent also acknowledged the wider effect of vehicle crime on victims. Losing access to a vehicle can affect people’s ability to travel to work, manage family responsibilities and carry out routine activities.

Moyles encouraged residents to remove valuables from vehicles, use suitable security devices and park in well-lit areas where possible.

How did city-centre car parks become hotspots?

Greater Manchester Police announced in June that vehicle crime in Manchester city-centre car parks had fallen significantly after an intelligence-led operation.

The force said vehicle crime across the city centre dropped by 38% over the year, from 1,469 incidents to a lower figure in 2025. The source article does not display the second figure clearly because of apparent formatting errors.

The largest reduction was recorded in thefts from vehicles. Those offences fell by 41%, from 1,271 incidents to a lower total in 2025.

Police said offenders often targeted car parks where they believed the risk of being caught was low and the potential reward was high. Visible valuables, limited CCTV coverage and predictable parking patterns could make some locations more attractive to criminals.

GMP responded with high-visibility patrols in hotspot areas during peak periods. Officers also managed repeat offenders, worked to improve CCTV coverage and shared information with car park operators and local businesses.

Several car parks recorded substantial reductions:

• New Quay Street: offences fell by 56%.
• Great Northern: offences fell by 61%.
• Bridge Street: offences fell by 57%.
• Central Convention Complex: offences fell by 42%.

Using Home Office estimates for the cost of vehicle crime, the financial impact in city-centre car parks was estimated to have fallen from approximately £1.8 million to around £1 million in 2025. That represented an estimated saving of £779,250 over the year.

What action has been taken against suspected theft gangs?

Police activity has also focused on organised groups believed to be involved in vehicle theft and related residential burglaries.

In July, more than 100 officers from Greater Manchester Police and Cheshire Police carried out nine warrants at properties across South Manchester and Cheshire. Ten men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles.

The investigation began after GMP’s Didsbury and Stockport divisions examined a series of high-value car burglaries reported between April and June 2026. Cheshire Police was investigating similar offences in Wilmslow, Handforth and Knutsford during May and June.

The two forces joined the investigation after identifying links suggesting that an organised crime group was operating across both police areas.

Eight men from Wythenshawe were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. The allegations related to more than 20 burglaries at homes in Macclesfield, Stockport and Wythenshawe between May and June 2026.

The charges are allegations, and those charged remain entitled to a fair trial. Police action against suspected organised groups is part of a broader effort to disrupt networks that can generate profits by exporting stolen vehicles or dismantling them for parts.

Which vehicles have police warned owners about?

GMP recently warned Ford owners to remain vigilant following a series of vehicle thefts in Manchester.

The warning followed the theft of four Ford Kuga vehicles from different areas within a short period. Owners of Ford Kugas, Ford Focuses and Ford Pumas were advised to take additional steps to secure their vehicles.

Vehicle owners can report information to GMP through the force’s website, including its live contact feature. Anonymous information can also be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Residents should avoid leaving valuables in parked vehicles and should consider manufacturer-approved security measures or additional devices where appropriate. Parking in a well-lit and monitored location can also reduce opportunities for opportunistic offences, although no measure can guarantee that a vehicle will not be targeted.

Background to Greater Manchester vehicle crime

Vehicle theft has remained a long-standing issue in Greater Manchester, with the offences involving different methods and targets. Some vehicles are stolen directly, while others are taken during residential burglaries or after criminals obtain keys.

The data in this report covers vehicle theft and unauthorised taking of motor vehicles. It is separate from offences such as theft from a vehicle, where property is removed from a car but the vehicle itself is not stolen, and vehicle interference, which can include attempts to enter or tamper with a vehicle.

The longer-term reduction in recorded thefts coincides with more focused police operations, improved intelligence sharing and security work involving car parks, businesses and local authorities. However, annual increases in Manchester, Salford, Tameside, Wigan and Trafford demonstrate that regional progress does not eliminate local risks.

The reported activity also reflects the increasingly organised nature of some vehicle crime. Police forces have described investigations involving suspected groups operating across administrative boundaries, making cooperation between GMP and neighbouring forces important.

The figures supplied through Secure Driveways’ Freedom of Information requests should be read alongside official police and Home Office data. Differences in definitions, reporting practices and recording periods can affect comparisons. The statistics show recorded incidents rather than every offence that may have occurred, because some crimes are not reported to police or may not be recorded in the same way.

How could the trend affect Greater Manchester residents?

The fall in Greater Manchester car theft is likely to be encouraging for residents, but the borough-level figures suggest that drivers should continue to consider local risk rather than relying only on the regional headline.

People living in or regularly visiting Oldham and Rochdale may face higher population-adjusted rates, while residents in Manchester, Salford, Tameside, Wigan and Trafford may be particularly aware of recent annual increases. The city-centre reductions indicate that targeted patrols, improved CCTV, partnership work and attention to repeat offenders can produce measurable results in specific locations.

For motorists, the immediate practical effect is that prevention remains important even while the overall trend is downward. Removing visible valuables, checking that vehicles are locked, using suitable security devices and choosing well-lit parking areas can reduce opportunities for offenders.

For businesses and car-park operators, the figures underline the value of reviewing CCTV coverage, lighting, patrol patterns and procedures for reporting suspicious activity. Continued information sharing with police may help identify repeat offenders and emerging hotspots.

For Greater Manchester Police, the challenge will be to maintain the wider reduction while responding to rises in individual boroughs and protecting vehicles targeted by organised groups. If targeted operations continue and local partnerships remain effective, recorded theft may fall further in the areas where interventions are sustained. However, the 5,303 offences recorded in 2025/26 show that vehicle crime remains a significant concern for residents across the region.