With better tech and security systems, you'd think car thieves would be on the decline, wouldn't you?
Not according to recent DVLA data it isn't . . .
This showed that car thefts increased during the 2022-23 period and that, shockingly, a vehicle was stolen roughly every 5 minutes somewhere in the UK.
But which cars are they targeting? And what steps can you take to limit the risk of your vehicle being broken into?
Stolen Vehicles Reported to the DVLA
According to that DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) data, these were the most stolen car brands according to manufacturer in the 12 months leading up to March 2023.
Land Rover – 8,284 stolen / 896,948 registered
Mercedes-Benz – 5,542 stolen / 1,717,687 registered
Ford – 11,703 stolen / 4,010,348 registered
BMW – 5,870 stolen / 2,026,370 registered
Audi – 4,091 stolen / 1,897,498 registered
Toyota – 3,095 stolen / 1,675,612 registered
Fiat – 1,004 stolen / 659,893 registered
Volkswagen – 4,336 stolen / 2,903,778 registered
Why Land Rover?
Mainly because they're high-value vehicles (especially the Land Rover Range Rover, which accounted for 5,533 thefts alone).
They're often stolen and stripped for their parts to go to 'chop shops' (a business that illicitly disassembles stolen motor vehicles and sells on their parts), or are shipped abroad in order to fulfil orders placed through the dark web.
Yes, there are people who place ads offering to steal cars for money and sell them on at discounted prices . . .
And because they're expensive, modern and high-tech, Land Rovers are also vulnerable to 'relay thefts' whereby carjackers make use of hacking devices to infiltrate the keyless entry and keyless start systems that often feature in these types of vehicle.
Ford
Over half of all the Ford cars stolen were Fiestas (5,979 out of 11,703), making the Ford Fiesta the most stolen car. That isn't a huge surprise in itself, given that they're so common.
But according to the DVLA, that figure represented a 53% rise from the previous year. So why the sudden increase?
Well, on 26 October 2022, Ford made the shock announcement that production would cease on the Ford Fiesta from June 2023 in order to replace the popular model with an all-new electric vehicle.
Following that newsflash, the value of second-hand Fiestas rose almost instantly as owners looked to cash-in on the news. Not surprisingly, car thieves had the exact same plan.
Got your heart set on a Fiesta? Then not to worry, because even though it's the most stolen car, that rate of theft still isn't alarming enough to mean you shouldn't get one, but it could be a factor to keep in mind if have your eye on other vehicles as well.
Locations With the Most Car Thefts
The biggest 'problem areas' are the West Midlands (with 251 out of every 100,000 cars stolen), closely followed by London. By contrast, more isolated, less densely populated places see lower rates of theft, with just 22 out of every 100,000 cars being stolen in Dyfed, Wales.
So if you're safety-conscious, you know which areas to avoid!
How Will My Insurance Be Affected?
Insurance companies take many factors into account when determining your insurance premiums, and chance of car theft is certainly one of them.
You see, insurance companies are all about 'risk'. They're keen not to have to pay out on a claim, which is exactly what they may have to do in the event of a stolen car. So it's little wonder that they'll charge extra for insuring a vehicle with a high 'risk' of being stolen.
As such, if you drive a particular model from a particular brand (like a Land Rover, for example), then that could be part of the reason for why your insurance is so high. Especially if the car is under 5 years old, as it'll be more valuable to the market, and therefore more valuable to thieves as well.
Do Brighter Cars Get Targeted More?
Actually, no.
The DVLA's data also revealed that stolen cars are most likely to be black, as well as cars painted in other 'neutral' colours like white, silver and grey. So colours that blend in with the crowd are the most likely to be stolen.
Brightly-coloured cars (think red, lime green and orange) tend to be avoided more by thieves because they stick out like a sore thumb on the roads and are more noticeable. Plus, there's fewer of them, so they're easier to track down as well.
What To Do If Your Car is Stolen
So you've woke up, opened the blinds and seen that your motor's missing.
Panic mode commencing . . .
But before you go into a full meltdown, make sure to inform the police as soon as possible that your car has been stolen. Needless to say, they often deal with stolen vehicles, and will require your vehicle's . . .
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Make and model
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Registration number
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Colour and any distinguishing features
Once they have these details jotted down, they'll provide you with a crime reference number which you'll need to report to your insurer so that they can register your car as missing. The DVLA will also be informed of the theft by the police.
How to Protect Your Car from Theft
1. Lock all doors and windows: As your first line of defence, it might seem obvious, but it's still possible to forget this on occasion. Which is why you should ALWAYS double-check that your doors and windows are locked before leaving your car unattended, even if you're only making a quick pit-stop.
2. Install an alarm system: Invest in one that's reliable and includes motion sensors, impact sensors and a loud alarm siren. Not only will this alert you, it'll also draw attention to any funny business and scare off would-be intruders.
3. Secure parking: Try to park in a secure car park or well-lit area with surveillance cameras and not in somewhere that's secluded or a high-crime area.
4. Install a video doorbell for your drive: In other words, a camera that doubles up as a doorbell. This can help to alert you if there is any motion around your driveway at home (if you have one). Not only that, the footage can also help to identify any thieves in the event that your car is stolen.
5. Use a steering wheel lock or immobiliser: Acting as a visible deterrent, one of these will make stealing your car harder and potentially put off any potential carjacker from attempting to enter.
6. Key management: Avoid leaving spare car keys within the vehicle or in an easy-to-access spot. Or if your car has keyless entry, then consider using a signal-blocking box to prevent attacks. Also, be careful with social media and avoid sharing any information about your vehicle or its parking spot, especially if you're going on holiday.
7. Insurance: Another obvious one. This will offer financial protection and help recover your losses in the event that your car is stolen.
8. Be vigilant: Keep an eye out and report any suspicious or unusual activity to the police in the first instance.
Install a Vehicle Tracker
Another valuable tool to have in your theft-deterring arsenal.
A vehicle tracker is basically a GPS tracking system that enables you to track down your vehicle if it is stolen. Something which is hopefully going to be invaluable to police in recovering it without too much hassle. And it's visible from the exterior, so it can act as another potential deterrent as well.
And even though having a tracker installed won't always guarantee that someone won't steal your car, you'll at least have tabs on where it's going or where it ends up should the unthinkable happen.
Summary
No matter what stage you're at on the car leasing journey, you never want your set of wheels to end up as one of the UK's countless stolen cars.
Now you know which vehicles are most likely to be stolen and why, and what steps you can take to minimise the risk of that happening.