Office refugee: Bristol's 1990's Car Crime

Younger readers are probably unaware that back in the 1990's, Bristol (South West England) was a car crime hotspot. Every week the newspapers were filled with yet another 'ram raid' or 'joyrider' story. At the time it seemed like an unstoppable crime wave. It wasn't just the owners of 'hot hatches' who enjoyed their vehicles - so did the car thieves. However, this was an epidemic which spread to all cities in the UK.

This was the decade of the 'hot hatch' and car makers produced a variety of performance cars such as the Sierra Cosworth, Golf GTI, Astra GTE and Vauxhall Cavalier SRI/GSI among others.

Bristol in the grip of 'Joyriding' 1991

Unfortunately the level of security on such cars was pretty much non-existent. Audible alarm systems were usually an optional extra and immobilisers not so common. Car owners were left to fend for themselves any way they could. This included use of steering locks like the Krooklok and gearstick locks which were sometimes so flimsy they could be broken off without too much effort.

Car owners didn't seem to understand that thieves were prepared to damage doors, locks and windows using a variety of destructive means to get inside. If thieves only want it for one night before abandoning it or setting fire to it then a little damage doesn't make any difference to them. The Police were literally left standing and early on simply didn't have enough cars which were fast enough to keep up with the thieves.

The classic 'Krooklok' - better than nothing?'

It seems that things have gone ’full circle’ as steering locks are making a comeback in 2023. The increasing use of ’keyless’ car entry has made them vulnerable to being stolen electronically. A big clunky piece of metal attached to the steering wheel seems to be a good deterent - how ironic!

’Ram raid' was a term created by the media to describe a new type of crime involving stolen cars. A stolen car would be reversed into a shop window/door to gain entry. Black rubbish wheelie bins were sometimes used to carry the stolen goods. High end fashion clothing or cigarettes were popular items to steal as they could easily be sold on.

Bristol Western Daily Press - Wednesday 03 March 1993

Thieves sometimes carried a stolen fire extinguisher with them which could be deployed against a pursuing Police car and obscure it's vision. The result of this was like driving into thick fog and surprisingly effective.

Sadly, court sentences for those arrested were relatively light and not a deterrent. Whilst the initial charge on arrest may have been 'theft of a motor vehicle', the reality was the offenders were only convicted for Taking and Driving Away (TDA) since they did not intend to steal the vehicle with the intention of keeping it. Offenders were given stiffer sentences if they had deliberately injured someone.

It is an offence under section 178 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to take and drive away a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or, knowing the vehicle has been taken, to drive it or be carried in it. The offence is intended to be used where a motor vehicle is taken, driven away and later abandoned.

The four top reasons for taking a vehicle were usually joyriding, ram-raiding, burglaries or for spare parts. Those taking cars were usually teenagers. Vauxhalls and Fords were top favourites and once a thief had the right technique, they were easy prey. Whilst ram-raiders were out to make some money, joyriders were enjoying the 'thrill' of the ride, even to the extent of taunting Police into a chase. Inevitably it would end in tears, or much worse.

There seems to be a common theme here......

For a short time it looked as if there was no stopping the car crime epidemic. However, some progress was made with the introduction of a Police helicopter and crime prevention initiatives. Car thieves rarely escaped once the helicopter was locked on - unless they managed to find a multi-story car park.....

1990's Crime prevention campaign

The problem was that there was a considerable amount of carnage and 'collateral damage' in the wake of these criminals. From time to time a 'joyride' would end in a 'deathride'.

A crashed Ford XR3i (not an Vauxhall Astra GTE as in the description)

Car makers were slow to respond but eventually introduced more sophisticated security systems with engine immobilisers. These days it's easier for criminals to break into someone's house and steal the car keys! Thankfully, we won't see a return to car crime on that scale.

Here's some rare photographs taken in 1992/93 which shows a stolen Vauxhall Astra SRI abandoned on Hallen Street, Henbury, Bristol and discovered in the morning. I say rare, because this was before mobile telephones had cameras so you had to have a camera with you at the right time and the right place. Many automatic 35mm film cameras, like the one used here, did not produce very good photographs. I'll try and get some good quality scans from the negatives when I have time. Also, it was Police policy to have the vehicles recovered as soon as possible so they didn’t get stolen again or stripped for parts. So there wouldn’t be many opportunities to photograph abandoned stolen vehicles in situ.

This particular car was used in a shop raid in Cheltenham/Gloucester. The drivers seat was so far forward that it was probably a young teenager who was driving. Notice the Vauxhall Cavalier SRI parked in the background which was left untouched. They may have spotted the Cavalier and were planning to switch cars but noticed that the Cavalier was fitted with a good alarm system and steering lock - perhaps not worth the hassle for car thieves in a hurray.

A few more rare photographs from that era. This time a hot-wired Austin Montego MG which took a left turn from Church Road to Croydon Street, Lawrence Hill, Bristol too fast and crashed into some metal railings. This occurred during the middle of the day. The driver and female passenger just walked away.

This was in front on Berkeley House, which was the HQ for the Vehicle Inspectorate at that time. It's now the HQ for Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Shall we say it was quite an 'eventful' area during the early 1990's. Robberies on the cycle path just behind Berkley House were not uncommon, even during the day. I once witnessed a male cyclist get off his bicycle and start undressing in the busy road - a Police car drove past without stopping........

Here's a Google Streetview map of the junction today

The police responded by fighting fire with fire.

Northumbria Police were the first to use the Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth in 1990

The stakes are raised - Northumbria Police get their first Ford Escort Cosworth 1992

Avon & Somerset Police trialed the Escort Cosworth but I don't think it was ever taken into service and instead favoured the Sierra Sapphire Cosworth.

Bristol Evening Post - Thursday 06 May 1993

Grimsby Daily Telegraph - Friday 05 April 1996

Here follows my own personal archive of press cuttings, mostly from 1993. This provides a good snapshot of how widespread the problem was at that time. Mostly taken from the Bristol Evening Post, Observer or Western Daily Press.

Ram raiding progressed from shops to private homes

It seemed like no car was safe - not even a Lotus Carlton Turbo

A joyriders dream. This beast is a 176mph Vauxhall Lotus Carlton. It was unveiled at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1990, as shown in this photograph which I took during my visit there.

As the 'car thieves' grew more confident it soon became a challenge to steal the best possible car. There was more kudos if you managed to steal a Vauxhall GSI or Ford Cosworth. Perhaps one of the ultimates was the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, at least one of which was stolen in the Bristol area (see clippings).

Progressing on from these cars was to steal a high powered Police car as the ultimate act of defiance. This was a completely audacious act, which did occur in many cities including Bristol. Imagine bragging to friends that it was you who stole that Police Ford Sierra Cosworth. However, this was literally 'too hot to handle' and resulted in their arrests. However, I'm sure in their own circles they became urban legends as a result of this and felt it was worthwhile.

There were at least two such incidents in the North Tyneside area. One was a newly delivered Ford Sierra Cosworth which had not yet even been given number plates or Police 'livery'. Stolen from the workshop compound. The other incident which occurred in the same area was another Police Ford Sierra Cosworth taken from a garage compound where it was being serviced.