Suffolk Police urges vigilance as vehicle thefts rise and Jake Game, of Bury St Edmunds, tells of moped theft

Police have urged vigilance after new figures revealed vehicle thefts are on the rise in Suffolk - as a man spoke of his heartbreak over the loss of his prized moped.

The data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by SuffolkNews showed the number of thefts or unauthorised takings of vehicles rose steadily in recent years from a low in 2022, but had not yet reached the pre-Covid peak of 2019.

In contrast, the number of aggravated vehicle taking offences (which means a vehicle is then used to commit a crime) in the county – which account for a significantly lower number of incidents – dropped.

The vehicle most commonly taken last year was a Ford Transit (29 thefts) followed by a Ford Fiesta (17), according to the data from Suffolk Police.

The constabulary urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are locked and secure at all times, while also checking their home security to combat opportunist thieves.

Among the victims was Jake Game, 25, of Bury St Edmunds, who woke on January 3, 2023, to find his moped had been stolen from outside his house.

He said it had a great sentimental value as it was bought with money left by his great nan, and it was his only way of getting to his job.

“To say I’m absolutely distraught is the least,” he said. “I still have both sets of keys which I will keep, I’m just heartbroken that someone has gone to the extent of stealing my moped.

“This was my form of transport for my job, and now I’m left with nothing.”

Jake said the helmet and accessories were stolen as well as the vehicle. He managed to obtain CCTV footage of the theft, but the moped remains missing.

In 2024 in the eastern command area of Suffolk, which includes the Lowestoft and Halesworth localities, 176 thefts were reported as well as 12 incidents of aggravated vehicle taking.

This was a year-on-year increase of 19 for the former (157 in 2023) while for the latter, it decreased by two (14 in 2023).

There was a smaller increase in the southern command area, which covers Ipswich. In 2023, there were 133 thefts compared to 159 in 2024, while there was one more aggravated theft (18 vs 19).

For the western area – which encompasses Bury, Newmarket and Haverhill – the theft increase was smaller still, 186 in 2023 to 191 in 2024. Meanwhile, there was a more significant drop in aggravated vehicle taking, from 25 in 2023 to 17 in 2024.

For the south and west areas, these figures are still a way off their 2019 peak; in the Ipswich areas, there were 198 thefts in 2019 alongside 25 aggravated takings, while for the west 2019 yielded 252 thefts and 28 aggravated thefts.

For the east, however, there were less thefts in 2019 compared to 2024 – with 140 in the pre-Covid year. The peak in this area was in 2021 (209 thefts). On the aggravated vehicle taking front, there has been a steady decrease in the east; the peak was 19 incidents in both 2019 and 2020.

A Suffolk Police spokesperson said, by having good home security, residents can stop thieves who may try property doors in an attempt to find the keys to their vehicles.

They also highlighted the potential pitfalls of keyless entry.

“Keyless entry allows drivers to open and start the vehicle without even touching the fob or even removing it from their pocket. Keyless entry systems on cars offer convenience to drivers, but can in some situations be exploited by criminals.

“Thieves will use scanners to detect the electronic signal from the keys, copy it and then take the vehicle. Ideally, the keys should not be left near doors/windows where someone could easily pick up the signal – try and store them away from the perimeter walls of the property/business or in a faraday pouch.”

They also urged vehicle owners to contact their dealership to check over its digital features and to see whether there are any software updates which can be used to further enhance security.

The spokesperson added three key security points:
- Keeping your keyless entry fob out of sight is not enough – thieves only need to gain proximity to the key to amplify the signal.
- Drivers are also being urged to keep both sets of keys in a faraday cage or pouch which blocks the signal from the fob.
- Be vigilant. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity in your neighbourhood – and report anything unusual to the police.

Jake’s moped was stolen from Oliver Road in Bury between 1.30am and 2.40am on January 3, 2023. It had a registration of AF67AKV.

Anyone who may have seen it or knows where it is should contact Suffolk Police, quoting reference 37/371/23.