According to the DVLA, the most stolen car in 2022 was the Ford Fiesta. Other vehicles that saw large numbers of thefts included the Ford Focus, the Volkswagen Golf, and the Vauxhall Astra and Corsa. Bear in mind though, that it is generally the higher-end models (the Ford ST models and the R and GTI models for Volkswagen) that are more desirable to thieves.
Although it’s true that some vehicles are easier to steal than others, bear in mind that popular models are likely to be higher on the list of stolen vehicles simply because there are more of them about to steal.
But when it comes to keyless theft, a number of makes of car are being especially targeted.
Thatcham Research – a vehicle-safety research organisation funded by the insurance industry – reported last year that police and insurers were seeing a spike in thefts of certain models of Lexus and Toyota. Thanks to some of the thieves being caught in the act, the advanced methods of theft targeting these models has been identified.
As far as Land Rovers are concerned, it’s thought that thousands were stolen across the UK last year. Many of them were Range Rovers stolen in towns and cities but other models – including Defenders and Discoveries – were targeted in rural areas.
As with the rise in vehicle theft more generally, the spike in Land Rover theft is thought to be due in large part to the difficulty in sourcing spare parts legally, the second-hand value of the make, and the long wait time on new vehicles.