Premium car models are topping the list of the most frequently stolen and recovered vehicles in the UK, according to the latest data. Thieves are targeting expensive cars in the knowledge they will fetch a higher price when sold on.
Criminals are investing in new technology to try and bypass vehicle security systems, as keyless car theft is also on the rise.
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Data from Tracker shows thieves are also stealing models that are no longer in production to feed the lucrative used car parts market. Criminals have grabbed the opportunities to make a fast buck by selling parts on the black market.
The stolen cars are taken to garages known as “chop shops” where criminals dismantle them and use the parts to repair other vehicles. These can include stolen vehicles that need new parts, or selling the parts on, including to unsuspecting honest buyers. In the first six months of 2023, a joint operation between Tracker and police forces across the UK discovered and raided 34 illegal “chop shops” in all parts of the country.
Data from Claims Management and Adjusting and the DVLA suggests there was a significant increase in car thefts in 2023, with one vehicle being stolen somewhere in Britain every five minutes.
Is your vehicle one of the top ten most stolen cars in the UK? If so, what car theft prevention steps can you take to thwart thieves?
1. Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover Sport was the most stolen vehicle of 2023, according to data from Tracker, as thieves know they can make a lot of money from selling it on.
Jaguar Land Rover has invested a hefty £10 million to tackle the issues and the company states the number of thefts has decreased by 27.2% since 2022.
In late 2023, the manufacturer introduced a new security system to combat keyless entry attacks on the Body Control Model, so criminals can’t unlock the car and drive off without a key.
Jaguar Land Rover launched its own insurance policy after reports surfaced of owners in London struggling to get insurance due to the number being stolen.
Range Rover owners who want additional protection can retrofit an insurance-approved tracking device that will have the vehicle monitored 24/7 by Tracker UK. The model can also be fitted with an Autowatch Ghost immobiliser to protect it from key-cloning, theft and hacking.
2. Lexus RX450h
The second most stolen car of 2023 was the Lexus RX450h, the latest model that comes in self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid options.
Like the Range Rover Sport, it is targeted because of its worth, as car thieves know they can get a lot of money by selling one on.
The plug-in hybrid model in particular first entered the most stolen and recovered cars list in 2022 and the trend continued in the UK throughout 2023.
3. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The C-Class comprises a series of medium-sized executive cars in coupe, saloon and estate models. It has become a competitive rival to the BMW 3 series in recent years.
Owners wishing to protect their investment can have an insurance-approved tracking device and Autowatch Ghost immobiliser retrofitted for extra protection.
4. Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Like its stablemate the C-Class, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a popular target for car thieves, again due to its value and desirability. It has long been a target for criminals because of its luxury status and the prestige of owning one.
It follows that when a car is particularly desirable, more people will buy one, so the theft numbers are higher compared with competitors because of the large number on the road today.
Like other Mercedes-Benz cars, the S-Class can be retrofitted with further security devices such as an immobiliser and tracker if desired.
5. Range Rover Vogue
The Range Rover Vogue is a luxury SUV that has caught the eye of criminals due to its popularity and price tag.
However, like the number one car on the list, the Range Rover Sport, the Vogue is subject to security enhancements due to the manufacturer’s £10 million investment.
6. BMW X5
A large, comfortable, family SUV, the BMW X5 is available in hybrid, petrol and diesel models. It was the UK’s sixth most stolen car in 2023 as a result of its luxury status.
In 2015, the BMW X5 was the most stolen car in Britain and had topped the table for six consecutive years.
Like other cars in its class, it can be retrofitted with an insurance-approved tracking device and Autowatch Ghost immobiliser for extra security.
7. Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery is a frequent target for keyless car thieves.
Luxury cars have largely taken over from popular standard cars such as the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, which have dropped out of the top ten most stolen since 2022.
8. Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque was number eight on the most-stolen list of 2023. In June last year, police in the Midlands warned motorists of a spate of thefts of the compact SUV after criminals stole them from driveways.
Detectives advised drivers of the model, with its keyless entry system, to fit additional security and turn off the key signal when in storage to make it harder for thieves to intercept the signal and gain entry.
9. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The latest electric model is already in great demand among criminal gangs, as is the original petrol version. Police in London issued a warning of criminals operating in residential streets after dark.
Unfortunately, the E-Class has been in the news for two decades due to the number that have been stolen – a good reason to take advantage of retrofitting improved security devices, such as the CAT 5 insurance-approved Vodafone Protect and Connect S5 anti-theft system.
10. Range Rover Autobiography
A news report suggested a Range Rover Autobiography was stolen in 80 seconds from a London supermarket car park. The report in Fleet News claimed thieves had taken advantage of a weakness in the model’s keyless entry system.
It was suggested the car was stolen to order by professional criminals who had followed the owner to the supermarket from her home and pounced when the prestige vehicle was parked up.
Data from Tracker at the end of 2023 reveals keyless vehicle theft is still on the increase in the UK. However, more of the stolen cars are being found, with recoveries up by 39% since the previous report.
The most expensive car recovered by Tracker in 2023 was a Mercedes-Benz AMG valued at £182,000; the cheapest was a £1,000 Audi A4.
