A NORTH East town has been named as one of the worst places in the UK for car crime. 

Hundreds of offences including the theft and damage of cars are reported in Darlington, making it the eight highest place for crime cases. 

And it is the DL1 postcode area of Darlington which came out on top compared to the rest of the North East. 

A total of 225 stolen vehicles were reported in the area in 2020 alone. 

The DL1 postcode are covers the town centre as well as surrounding areas of Harrowgate Hill, Beaumont Hill and Haughton Le Skerne. 

Ford Fiestas were found to be the most popular stolen car in the UK and the LE2 postcode in Leicester, East Midlands, was the highest with 342 crimes. 

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A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said: 

A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: “Being the victim of car crime can be extremely distressing and upsetting, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your vehicle.

“Always park with care and in a busy, well-lit area, if possible. When parking up at home, use your garage or driveway if you have one, and always take all valuables with you when you leave your car.

“Don’t just rely on your key fob when locking your vehicle – always double check the car is actually locked when leaving your car unattended.

“If you have a keyless car, it is worth investing in a faraday bag to store your car keys in. Also known as signal blocking pouches, these bags are lined with layers of metallic material that block a key’s signal from escaping, stopping would-be thieves from using advanced methods, such as relay technology, to unlock your vehicle.

“Tracking devices and steering wheel locks can also act as good deterrents, minimising damage and increasing the chance of recovery.”

The most popular postcodes and stolen vehicles between January 1 and December 31, 2020.

1. LE2 (Leicester) 342

2. SL1 (Slough) 285

3. SN5 (Swindon) 268

4. GU11 (Aldershot) 263

5. B25 (Birmingham) 256

6. MK14 (Milton Keynes) 252

7. SK3 (Stockport) 233

8. DL1 (Darlington) 225

9. SL3 (Slough) 192

10. L39 (Ormskirk) 177

Source: DVLA.