According to official data from Tracker, Land Rovers were among the most stolen vehicles in the UK in 2022. The Range Rover was the second most stolen car, experiencing a 47% increase in thefts, while the Discovery came in fifth place with a theft increase of 52.4%. These figures suggest that Land Rovers continued to be targeted by thieves, with the number of Range Rovers unlawfully taken rising by 47% compared to the previous year and Land Rover Discovery thefts increasing by more than half.
The DVLA provided official vehicle data relating to the theft of all vehicles to the car leasing comparison site LeaseLoco, which has shared the information.
In total, 61,106 stolen cars of all makes and models were reported to the DVLA in 2022, compared to 48,493 in 2021 - an increase of 26%.
That equates to a car stolen from its owner every eight-and-a-half minutes in the UK last year.
There were 12,613 more cars stolen last year than during 2021 (48,493), and 2,464 more than the 58,642 pinched during 2019, pre-pandemic, it added.
Of these 61,106 motors pinched in 2022, almost 10% were Range Rovers.
10 most stolen cars of 2022 REVEALED
- Ford Fiesta: 5,979 (up 53.0%)
- Range Rover: 5,533 (up 47.4%)
- Ford Focus: 2,186 (up 14.3%)
- VW Golf: 2,036 (up 16.0%)
- Land Rover Discovery: 1,920 (up 52.4%)
- BMW 3 Series: 1,454 (down 0.7%)
- Mercedes C-Class: 1,378 (down 6.5%)
- Vauxhall Corsa: 1,280 (up 5.1%)
- Vauxhall Astra: 1,240 (up 13.1%)
- Mercedes E-Class: 866 (up 5.9%)
Source: DVLA records provided to LeaseLoco. Figures are for 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022
It is unfortunate that Land Rover has two of its vehicles in the top ten most-stolen cars in the UK. While Land Rover would argue that the popularity of these vehicles is the driver, there are undoubtedly weak points in Land Rover security that make them more vulnerable to theft. At 4WDrive, we recommend several items to combat this, including security systems that can help protect against keyless theft and other forms of theft.
The Land Rover Discovery is increasingly popular among families, and some are unwittingly turning to buy stolen parts due to rising costs. This is a concerning trend highlighting the importance of adequate security measures to prevent theft.
The Range Rover has always been popular for thefts; unfortunately, this trend continues. Thieves are now attacking the CAN BUS on these vehicles, allowing them to steal the car in less than thirty seconds. However, at 4WDrive, we can help by providing security solutions that can help protect against these types of attacks. It is essential for Land Rover owners to take these precautions seriously to prevent becoming a target for thieves.
Stolen vehicles reported to the DVLA
2022: 61,106
2021: 48,493
2020: 46,876
2019: 58,642
Source: DVLA data provided to LeaseLoco following FOI request
Unfortunately, Land Rovers’, particularly Range Rovers, desirability has increased due to a global lack of good quality used vehicles alongside spare parts shortages. As a result, vehicles are often stolen and stripped for their parts in chop shops or stolen to order and shipped abroad to meet international demand . This is reflected in the DVLA data, which shows that the Range Rover is Britain's second most-stolen car, with 5,533 reported stolen to the DVLA in 2022, up from 3,754 in 2021, marking a year-on-year increase of 47.4% . Even though the expensive Land Rover is relatively common with over 400,000 currently on the road, it is not among the ten most-registered models in the UK and has less than a third the number of Fiestas in Britain today . Thieves tend to target high-value vehicles to order, and the Range Rover is a popular target due to its high desirability and value.
Sources:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry-news-analysis/land-rovers-increasing-desirability-causing-spare-parts-shortages
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-10729697/Range-Rover-Britain
Fifth in the rankings of stolen cars was the Land Rover Discovery, with 1,920 reported to police and the DVLA in 2022.
This is a 52.4 per cent increase of the 1,260 that were pinched in 2021 and is a higher theft volume than far more popular cars, like Vauxhall's Corsa (1,280) and Astra (1,240).
Last year, an insurer examined theft claims data and found that cars with keyless technology are twice as likely to be pinched as those without these features. Criminals are becoming increasingly brazen as more are ditching the cover of darkness to steal vehicles in broad daylight.
Aviva said claims records held on its database between August 2020 and August 2022 show that the number of cars stolen with keyless entry and keyless start systems was twice that of models without the tech.
A spokesperson told This is Money: 'Analysis of our claims data reveals that theft claims are twice as likely to occur for keyless vehicles than non-keyless models.'
According to recent reports, car thefts are on the rise, and certain high-end vehicles are particularly vulnerable to theft due to their keyless entry and keyless start systems. Thieves are using hacking devices to infiltrate these systems, making it easier to steal valuable cars. In addition, many of these thefts are being carried out to fulfill orders from higher-ups in the criminal world, who have specific requests for vehicles in high demand overseas or that can be broken down for spare components.
An investigation by insurer Direct Line found that most car thieves are going out with a shopping list of vehicles to target, usually consisting of five or six models. These requests come from those behind the black market, who are willing to pay a higher percentage of an in-demand car's value, though thieves typically only make around 5% of the car is worth. Direct Line also found that car thieves typically only secure around 1.25% of the motor's market price on average when rewarded for their illegal services.
While Range Rovers remain a popular target for sophisticated criminal gangs with the knowledge and keyless tech to gain entry quickly, there has been an overall 26% increase in car thefts last year. This means car owners must be aware of the risks and take appropriate precautions to avoid becoming victims. One company that can help is 4WDrive, which offers various security solutions to protect cars from theft. It is essential for owners of high-end vehicles to take these precautions seriously to prevent becoming a target for thieves.