15 August 2002: Over 8000 cars a year - over 150 a week - are being stolen in the UK as a direct result of houses being burgled.

Cash and jewellery still top the items stolen from houses, but according to the British Crime Survey, cars and car keys are increasingly being targeted and now total 2% of all burglaries with loss.

Using a wire through the letterbox is one of the most popular ways for thieves to hook car keys left in reach of a front or back door.

Car security device maker Autolok advises home- and car-owners to fit additional security - and keep keys separate and out of reach of windows and letterboxes. "The more layers of security a thief has to penetrate, the more likely he is to look elsewhere,” a spokesman said.

In a South Yorkshire police test where the company’s Autolok 2000 steering wheel shield was given to victims of car theft in south Rotherham, car crime dropped by 65% compared to an average 37% reduction in the same three year period throughout the county.

"We can't claim that the project alone has been responsible for this big reduction but it is reasonable to believe it made a significant contribution," said police Inspector Steve Lavin, one of the officers involved in the free steering wheel lock project.