Which cars are at most risk of being stolen

A response by Jon Caldwell, Security Consultant, at Caldwell Security.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) reported there were 56,288 vehicles targeted by car thieves in 2019, and 74,769 reported stolen to the DVLA in 2020, an increase of 33%, which is 205 motor thefts per day.

The top ten cars most commonly reported to them as stolen in 2019, and again in 2020 were: -

1.  Ford Fiesta (2,384 in 2019 and 3,392 in 2020)

2.  Range Rover (1,917 and 2,881)

3.  VW Golf (1,331 and 1,975)

4.  Ford Focus (1,200 and 1,587)

5.  BMW 3 Series (1,042 and 1,435)

6.  Vauxhall Astra (836 and 1,126)

7.  Land Rover Discovery (791 and 900)

8.  Mercedes E Class (612 and 766)

9.  BMW 5 Series (506 and 678)

10.  Audi A3 (456) in 2019, and in 2020 Nissan Qashqai (655)

This means a luxury car is stolen every 38 minutes on Britain’s roads.  The majority of stolen cars use keyless technology, which are targeted by Criminals with the expertise and technology to carry out ‘relay thefts’, and keyless technology is at the heart of the problem.  Government statistics indicate there is less than a 50% chance of a stolen car being returned to the owner, and if it is returned, it is highly unlikely to be in a good condition.

Criminals are also targeting Commercial Vehicles, with the Fiat Ducato, and Ford Transit, being at high risk of being attacked, with thieves likely to be stealing expensive tools from inside.

The Insurer LV reported, between 2016 and 2019, vehicle claims in London have increased by 265%, most notably due to the rise in keyless car crime, with other Cities, such as Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham, seeing increases of over 100%.

Owners of high-risk vehicles can take some simple, and low-cost measures, to reduce the risk of their vehicle being stolen.  For those with keyless entry systems, the risk can be reduced by the purchase of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) signal blocking (Faraday) pouch, which can be bought from many Retailers, for as little as £5.  By keeping the key in the pouch, especially when the vehicle is locked and parked, prevents criminals carrying out a relay theft.

Other low-cost mitigations include using an old-fashioned Steering Lock, and consider fitting a Vehicle Alarm system, Immobiliser and Tracker, all of which will add a delay to any attempted theft, and will risk the attempted theft being reported to Police, and cause the Car Thief to look elsewhere to target a vehicle.

Vehicle Owners should avoid leaving valuables in unattended vehicles, or at least keep valuables out of sight.  Make sure you check your vehicle has actually locked before walking away, in case a thief has blocked the signal.  Always consider the best location to park your vehicle, look for somewhere well-lit, preferably monitored by CCTV.  If possible, high-risk vehicles should be kept in a garage, or parked on a driveway, with security lighting, and protected by a security bollard.  High-value wheels should be protected with Locking Wheel Nuts.

Consider booking a Consultation, with Caldwell Security, by using the button on the Company Website, and you will receive a low-cost Crime Prevention Security Survey, with bespoke high-quality security advice. Learn more about our vehicles theft prevention service by clicking HERE

Caldwell Security Consultants will provide, no obligation, security mitigation recommendations, but they do not provide installation, or supply, of any security products.