‘First increase in 20 years’
Significantly more passenger cars were stolen in the first half of 2022 than in that period last year. This is apparent from figures from the National Vehicle Crime Information Center, which even speaks of the first increase in 20 years.
In the first six months of this year, 2,900 passenger cars were stolen. An increase of no less than 13 percent compared to the first half of 2021. Undoubtedly, fewer cars were stolen last year due to the corona crisis. In the first half of the year, the curfew ‘helped’ in that regard, but also the fact that people were at home more often.
The LIV refers to the first increase in 20 years, yet the absolute number is in a sense not so bad. If another 2,900 passenger cars were stolen in the second half of the year, the total would come to 6,800 and therefore just below the total number of 7,107 from 2019, the last year before corona. In 2020, 6,434 passenger cars were stolen, so that year would be surpassed and also 2021, when ‘only’ more than 5,400 passenger cars were stolen.
Popular stolen cars
According to the LIV, Toyota is the most popular brand among car thieves for the first time. 476 passenger cars of that brand were stolen in the past six months. Volkswagen, traditionally popular among thieves, is in second place with 376 units. Peugeot (230), Renault (214) and Audi (162) complete the top five. The Toyota RAV4 was the most stolen model with 196 units, followed by the Volkswagen Golf (139), Volkswagen Polo (139), Mazda CX-5 (92) and Toyota Auris (89). Looking at the relative numbers, the Toyota RAV4 is also the car with the highest theft risk. The Mazda CX-5, Toyota CH-R, Peugeot 3008 and Toyota Auris are also relatively often stolen.
Incidentally, 40 percent of the stolen passenger cars were recovered. That percentage is considerably lower for some of the popular models. For example, only 22 percent of stolen RAV4s were recovered and only 21 percent of stolen Mazda CX-5s. The Volkswagen Golf (46 percent) and Toyota Auris (69 percent) are often found above average. With a recovery rate of 40 percent, the Polo is exactly on average.
Ages
Are it mainly almost new cars that are stolen? Well no. Young, but certainly used cars for a little longer. Especially cars that are 3, 4 or 5 years old are often the worst. No less than 28 percent of the stolen cars fall into that age category. “Part of the problem is that vehicles of 4 years and older with a new price under €50,000 often do not have an additional alarm system and are therefore extra vulnerable to theft and car theft. Keyless entry is still easy to crack with many brands. Installing an additional CCV-approved alarm system and disabling an existing keyless is the best remedy,” says Rudi Welling of the LIV.
In the youngest category (0 to 3 years old), 63 fewer passenger cars were stolen in the past six months than in that period last year. According to the LIV, the improved traceability and anti-theft systems of the youngest cars may play a role.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl