Why it matters: Where you live in Ipswich significantly impacts your chances of becoming a victim of car theft, with stark differences between neighbouring areas of the town.
The big picture: Ipswich saw 1,109 reported car thefts between 2016 and 2024, but the risk is not evenly distributed across the borough's 16 wards.
Car thefts by year (all wards)
The data reveals significant geographic disparities in car theft across Ipswich, with a five-fold difference between the highest and lowest risk wards creating a postcode lottery for vehicle security in the town.
By the numbers: The borough-wide average is 8.8 thefts per 10,000 residents but wards are not affected evenly, with Whitton residents 4.8 times more likely to have their car stolen than those in Rushmere:
Whitton residents face the highest risk at 18.9 thefts per 10,000 residents annually – the ward accounts for just 5.9% of Ipswich's population but 12.7% of all car thefts
Westgate (16.7 thefts per 10,000) is the second highest risk area
Rushmere has the lowest rate at just 3.9 thefts per 10,000 residents
Four of the five most populous wards also appear in the top five for theft rates – which you would expect
Car theft rate by ward
Car thefts by ward by year
The data also reveals shifts in car theft patterns over time:
St John's residents now face 9.3 times higher risk than in 2016
St Margaret's (4.5x), Rushmere (3.9x), Stoke Park (3.6x) and Sprites (2.9x) also show substantial increases
Meanwhile, Whitehouse (-63%), Priory Heath (-58%) and Castle Hill (-56%) have seen dramatic improvements
The justice gap: Only 8.8% of incidents result in charges, and just 5.2% lead to convictions. However, the most recent Home Office figures reveal Suffolk has the third highest conviction rate in England and Wales at 5.31%, compared to a dismal national average of just 2.12%. This puts the county behind only the City of London (9.38%) and Norfolk (7.68%).
Conviction rate by year (all wards)
Why car theft is hard to solve: The speed at which modern car thefts occur presents significant challenges for police:
Vehicles are often stolen without breaking into premises
Cars are quickly moved before owners notice
Criminals frequently use false number plates
Modern technology enables keyless theft without traditional break-ins
What they're saying: Inspector Jess Lawlor said: "Crime figures and the methods of criminals are everchanging and we continually assess these figures, along with data on where crimes are taking place, to help decide how best to use our resources.
"While it is pleasing to see Suffolk's figures for both charges and prosecution are above those of the national average, we recognise the impact these often difficult-to-solve thefts have on individuals and business.
"Vehicles are often stolen without the need to break in to premises and are quickly moved on, often before owners have noticed. Criminals often use false number plates for those vehicles they have stolen."
Inspector Lawlor emphasised the importance of reporting: "The message we continue to drive amongst our communities is to report crimes as soon as possible with as much information as possible, and to ensure the best security measures are in place, including locking doors and windows, and making best use of security lighting and CCTV opportunities such as video doorbells."
The bottom line: Despite Suffolk's relatively high conviction performance compared to the dismal national average of just 2%, car thieves still have the upper hand across Ipswich with nearly 95% evading justice. This makes prevention measures like Faraday pouches, steering locks and improved home security crucial – especially for residents in wards where car thefts are more prevalent.
