The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) data shows the vehicle type taken most often was a five-door hatchback car (24,518 thefts), followed by estate cars (20,685), motorbikes (18,673) and small vans (11,172).

The figures also revealed that four bin lorries, three road sweepers, two tar sprayers, nine ambulances, seven ride-on lawnmowers, one hearse, one concrete mixer, one sewage tank emptier, and one fire engine were also stolen.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding told Sky News: ‘This data shows that from a tractor to a tipper to a tar sprayer, there is literally no type of vehicle that someone won't steal.

‘Some will be taken for resale, some for a joyride, but many will be broken up for parts or shipped abroad out of the way of prying eyes.’

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