Drivers warned of bizarre surge in steering wheel thefts

Insurer reports 68% rise in claims for stolen component as thieves look to make easy money in used parts

There has been a sharp rise in cars having their steering wheels stolen, according to a major UK insurer.

The bizarre crime is linked to issues in the automotive supply chain, with crooks stealing the components in order to sell on the airbags contained in them.

According to Admiral Insurance, cases rose 68% in 2021 compared with the previous year as criminals looked to make easy money trading dodgy second-hand parts.

While drivers of BMWs were the most likely to make a claim for a stolen steering wheel, Admiral’s head of claims Lorna Connelly said that thieves appeared to be indiscriminate in which vehicles they struck, with popular models from Ford, Mercedes and Land Rover also targetted.

Admiral’s experts believe thieves are stealing steering wheels to get valuable airbags from inside them

She said that while the thefts were a relatively new phenomenon and still represented just a small number of claims, the rapid rise in recent years was cause for concern.

She said: “Our data shows that the number of claims for stolen steering wheels has increased in recent years, with the biggest rise in the last year. You might wonder why a thief would take a steering wheel, but it’s what’s inside they’re really after. We understand that they’re being stolen for the airbags housed inside them.

“Airbag theft is a relatively new phenomenon, as criminals look for new ways to make money from stolen car parts during the pandemic.”