Two vehicles are deliberately torched in the West Midlands every day.
Figures from the Home Office reveal that West Midlands Fire Service were called out to 808 deliberate vehicle fires in 2018/19.
It means that nearly two in every three car fires attended by the service were arson.
The number is down from 868 deliberate vehicle fires in 2017/18, and was a decrease for the second year in a row.
However, the Fire Brigade Union warn that cuts could mean firefighters are less able to respond quickly and effectively to car arson, even with a reduction in incidents.
The drop comes at a time when the fire service has been dealing with ongoing cuts to their workforce.
There are currently the equivalent of 1,408 full time firefighters working in the West Midlands - down from 2,035 in 2002, and the joint-lowest number on recent record (tied with last year).
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Deliberately caused fires put the lives of firefighters and members of the public at risk, and use up precious time and resources.
“Regardless of the cause, it is vital that firefighters are able to respond to a fire quickly and effectively, but a decade of austerity has put those capabilities at risk.
“Nationally one in five firefighter posts have been slashed since 2010, with emergency response times taking a significant hit.
“The overall number of fires in England has spiked by nearly 10% this year - we urgently need more firefighters and more investment in the fire and rescue service.”
Nationally, firefighters were called out to 10,254 deliberate vehicle fires in 2018/19, also down from 11,166 the year before.
In the majority of cases those vehicles were cars (6,073), although other popular targets included motorcycles (2,136).
Other vehicles that were regularly attacked included vans (983), lorries (79), and the occasional bus (26).
In total, nine people were actually killed in deliberate vehicle fires in the last year, and a further 64 were seriously injured.
How to avoid it
Fiveservice.co.uk uses the following checklist:
Where to leave your car – At night, park in a well lit place. Thieves like working in shadows, so avoid poorly lit areas. In a ticket-exit car park, take the ticket with you and always try to use a secured car park
Remove the ignition key – Don’t leave the key in the ignition – not even for just a few seconds to go into your house, a shop or pay for petrol
Close all windows – When you leave the car, close windows. Don’t forget the sun roof
Fit and use an anti-theft devices – Most car thieves are opportunists, so they will probably move on to a car without a device fitted. You can often obtain an insurance discount for an approved alarm / immobiliser
Always lock doors and boot / tailgate – Even when the car is in your own drive or garage, lock it and take the key with you
Hide property – Whenever possible take your property with you when you leave your car. Otherwise always lock belongings in the boot. In a hatchback the rear shelf should be in position. In an estate car cover up property with a sheet or blanket.
