Research conducted by LeaseCar found that likelihood of those parking in the postcode vicinity of the London’s King’s College Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital being a victim to a car crime ignorantly increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. The hospital saw a combined 155% increase in vehicle crimes during the period December 2019-2020 than the previous year.

The exploration found that King’s College Hospital saw an 81.93% increase in crimes committed, an increase from 49 in December 2018-2019 to 117 in 2020. A similar increase can be seen for St Thomas’ Hospital which saw the number of crimes increase from 24 to 52, a 74% increase.

The car leasing firm used crime stats to investigate which hospitals in the country had the highest vehicle crime and whether the Covid-19 pandemic had had any impact on the number of crimes committed. As a year that saw two national lockdowns be implemented and social restrictions placed, hospitals consequently saw less footfall.

With many appointments being made virtual or postponed and visitor restrictions placed on those patients whose sessions continued, it was expected that crimes would have decreased. And for some areas of London, it did.

Guy’s Hospital, University College and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital all saw a dramatic decrease in car crimes during the same year that other hospitals in the country saw an astonishing influx.

Guy’s Hospital in Southwark saw a decrease of 69.57% with car crimes dropping from 62 to 30, while crimes at University College in Bloomsbury saw a drop from 76 to 26, a staggering 98% decrease.

While vehicle crimes at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital were still high with 146 reported, it was a 52% drop from the 250 crimes in the 2018-2019 period.

A report by the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) found that car crimes across the UK soared by a third in 2020. 74,769 robberies were recorded, a 33% jump on the year before despite two national lockdowns that resulted in fewer drivers on the roads.

According to the most recent Office for National Statistics report on vehicle-related theft, 72% of stolen cars will never return to their owners. Last year’s return rate of 28% was the lowest for a decade, the ONS stats say.

The past year saw many people struggle with physical and mental health, money, job security and isolation from family, meaning vehicle security was not a top priority for most. With the nature of hospitals, many visitors are more concerned about the upcoming proceedings than the security of their car, which makes them more vulnerable to criminals.

Lease Car, one of the UK’s leading leasing agencies, has released their expert tips on how to ensure your car can remain safe when being parked in large car parks for both short and long periods of time.

– If you can see it, they can see it; never leave anything valuable on show within your vehicle including mobile phones, wallets and handbags. Do not leave anything that can be sold quickly on display either. More often than not the price of replacing a window is far greater than the item taken, therefore best to take any enticements away.

– Park in a well-lit area; avoid parking at the very back, in corners or other restricted areas. Ensuring your car is visible will put-off potential thieves and also ensure your own safety when approaching your vehicle.

– Purchase an alarm; if your car doesn’t already have an alarm fitted, get one. Alarm sirens are great thief deterrents as they cause commotion and attract attention. Install a tracking device in case your car does get stolen, this can help police and more likely result in the finding/return of your car.

– Lock your doors; it may seem obvious but when parking at a hospital, most people already have a lot on their mind and therefore can forget to do this common task. Criminals prey on these easy mistakes made by vulnerable people.

Lease Car said, “It’s unfortunate that the research found that during these difficult times so many people have been subject to the stress of being a victim of a car crime. Hospitals can be safe havens for many people, where they go to receive help and therefore many forget that it is also a hub for crime, with criminals preying on people at their most vulnerable.

By ensuring people are following basic safety measures vehicles can be more secure and less likely to be attempted by criminals.”