Essex has been ranked the third biggest hotspot for the number of prams stolen prams in the country.

According to new research by Confused.com, Essex Police had 260 cases reported between 2015 and 2018.

Epping Forest has seen a gradual increase in pram stolen, 39 incidents were reported during this period, and 16 cases were reported during the 2017/18 financial year.

This works out to be 0.1 theft of a buggy per 1,000 people in the district in 2017/18 according to a report from the Freedom of Information (FOI).

Basildon is reported to be the biggest pram theft hotspot in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with 14 prams or strollers stolen in 2018.

A spokesperson at Confused.com said: “It’s easy to forget about your valuables when minding a small child. And knowing how to keep a pram secure can be baffling for parents.

“In fact, one in eight (12%) admit they’re confused about the different security options for their pram or pushchair.”

Confused.com also found 48% of the forces that responded said pram thefts had either increased or remained the same between 2017 and 2018.

Despite around 1.5m UK parents have been victim to this crime, nearly half of cases are not reported to police and is costing approximately £60m per year.

Alarmingly, prams are often stolen in public spaces, the most common locations were cafes (12%), public car parks (12%), outside supermarkets (12%) and from the owner’s home (11%).

Interestingly, almost one in five parents said they would consider buying a stolen pushchair, which could be contributing to the buggy black market.

Designer buggy brands are also at a higher risk, Mothercare (13%), Silver Cross (12%) and Mamas and Papas (11%) are the most popular with thieves.

Confused.com added: “We offer a range of tips for parents so they’re clear on how to keep their prams safe. We want parents to protect their prams at all costs, from investing in security locks to ensuring their pram is covered by their insurance.”

Visit www.confused.com/home-insurance/pram-theft-hotspots/pram-security-tips to find out who to keep your buggy or pram safe.

For advice and tips on how to keep your property safe you visit our website: https://www.essex.police.uk/advice/