Anyone who loves their wheels will be heartbroken if anything ever happened to them, which is why thieves should receive harsher punishments.

This is according to Churchill Car Insurance, noting that the punishment for car thefts is not enough of a deterrent.

It revealed out of the 7,405 prosecutions for vehicle theft in England and Wales between 2012 and 2016, only 20 per cent of thieves received a custodial sentence. The average length of time handed out was 21 months, and those who did not go to prison were typically fined £198.

Steve Barrett, head of car insurance at Churchill, said: "As well as being a harrowing experience, having your car stolen can be a huge inconvenience, with many people reliant on their cars on a daily basis."

He stated that this type of crime accounts for more than a fifth of vehicle offences and at least 200 vehicles are reported stolen every day.

Therefore, Mr Barrett added that the "punishment needs to reflect the impact of the crime" and be more offputting to thieves.

Car owners who have pimped up their motors with hydro dipping or vehicle wrapping in London will be even more concerned about their wheels. They have spent a lot of time improving them, and this could make them even more attractive to criminals.

It is not just theft to worry about either, as car vandalism is becoming more common, with 27 per cent of UK drivers having experienced this in the past, Churchill Car Insurance also reported.