The Ford Fiesta was by far, the most commonly stolen car in the UK during 2020. Based on an FOI request from Rivervale Leasing, the 15 most commonly stolen vehicles were:
- Ford Fiesta – 3,392
- Range Rover – 2,881
- Volkswagen Golf – 1,975
- Ford Focus – 1,587
- BMW 3 Series – 1,435
- Vauxhall Astra – 1,126
- Land Rover Discovery – 900
- Mercedes-Benz E Class – 766
- BMW 5 Series – 678
- Nissan Qashqai – 655
- Ford Kuga – 620
- BMW X5 – 551
- Fiat 500 – 358
- Mercedes-Benz GLC – 342
- Audi A6 – 268
As you can see, the popular Ford Fiesta features as the most frequently stolen vehicle, but what you cannot fail to notice is that the list has a high proportion of premium vehicles featured within it including Ranger Rover, BMW 3 Series, Land Rover Discovery, Mercedes Benz E Class and GLC, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6.
Premium cars most likely to be stolen
However, it’s interesting to note that when the numbers are studied per thousand cars on the road, then premium vehicles become the vehicles that are most commonly stolen. For example in this instance, the Range Rover, with 7 out of every 1,000 on the road being stolen would take top position, followed by BMW X5 and Mercedes-GLC.
Year after year, we see the same models appearing on these lists with criminals seemingly sticking to their favoured vehicles. Gangs of car thieves are known to use encrypted messages via WhatsApp to identify desirable vehicles and share information on pricing, buyers and even fake licence plates from similar makes and models to clone vehicles.
Why would car thieves choose my car?
There are several reasons that your car may be chosen by car thieves. Opportunists will seek out unlocked car doors randomly when vehicles are parked in quiet and unlit areas because there is less chance of being caught in the act.
Cars with goods, electronics, bags and even food left on display may be broken into for the items on display and then, once in, the thief may choose to take off with the vehicle.
Of a more sinister nature is that many makes and models are pre-selected, thanks to the re-sale value or, for the fun of the ride. These tend to be premium models, as can be seen from this year’s list above.
How can I stop my car from being stolen?
Firstly, you could take a look at this blog post which identifies many ways that you can minimise the risk of car theft and if the worst happens, get your vehicle back. Our friendly, experienced team is on had to offer advice and make recommendations on how to keep your vehicle safe.
If you’re a fleet manager, we’re happy to offer a consultation and make recommendations on the best deterrents and products for your fleet.
Call our team on 01446 334 005 or email sales@kits-n-bits.com