Car thieves are now targeting parts such as parking sensors and airbags as the black market for stolen car parts thrives.

The theft of parking sensors quadrupled in 2024 as car criminals move to stealing car components rather than taking the vehicles themselves.

Admiral Car Insurance figures show parking sensor theft increased a whopping 294% between 2023 and 2024. That’s because they are both very easy to steal and have a high resale value on the black market.

Parking sensors, which can cost anything between £100 and £300 when new, can be sold on in multiple ways, including to garages, online marketplaces or drivers seeking cut-price replacements. Read more