Police issue alert to drivers after 17 Ford Fiestas stolen from Tayside in just three weeks

Some 17 Ford Fiestas have been stolen from Tayside in just three weeks, Police Scotland has said.

The force has urged motorists to be vigilant following the spate of thefts in the area.

Officers said the uptick began on February 22 with eight cars having been recovered since.

Detective constable Dave Fearn said: “In Tayside, we’ve seen an increase in keyless car thefts recently and we understand that a stolen car can be very upsetting for owners.

“We have a dedicated team of officers with the priority of investigating these thefts and disrupting this criminal activity.”

He said the vehicles were all Ford Fiesta and Ford Fiesta ST models.

The Ford Fiesta is the UK’s all-time bestselling car, with nearly five million vehicles sold since its launch in 1976.

In 2023, it was the UK’s most stolen car.

More than 22 million have been sold across the world.

Despite its success though, the last Ford Fiesta left the assembly line in July last year as Ford saught to move to a new fleet of electric vehcies.

The Ford Fiesta was the top-selling car in the UK for 12 years in a row from 2009 to 2020. Ford

Detective constable Fearn continued: “It is imperative that car owners stay one step ahead of criminals in the fight against this type of crime and we’d encourage people to take a few extra precautions to support preventing this activity.

“There are few simple things you can do to avoid becoming of a victim. When you are at home, keep your car keys or fobs away from the car, don’t leave them near your doors or windows.

“Buy a signal-blocking pouch, this can block the transmission of the signal from the car key. You can buy these online.

“Using a steering lock can be an effective way of ensuring that your vehicle is not stolen. It can be a useful deterrent.

“If you have a garage, I would strongly recommend you use it to secure your vehicle or park in the driveway if you have one.

“Vehicle trackers and tracking devices are also a form of additional security and can assist police in recovering stolen cars quickly.

“Ensure your vehicle is locked and secure and all valuables removed when not in use.

“Additional patrols will be carried out in an effort to prevent this kind of criminality.”

Those who witness any suspicious activity are asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Information on keeping your vehicle safe can be found here.